**GAO-08-449T**                      Published: Feb 13, 2008. Publicly Released: Feb 13, 2008.                  

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## Highlights

The use of information technology (IT) is crucial to the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) mission to promote the health, welfare, and dignity of all veterans in recognition of their service to the nation. In this regard, the department's fiscal year 2009 budget proposal includes about $2.4 billion to support IT development, operations, and maintenance. VA has, however, experienced challenges in managing its IT projects and initiatives, including cost overruns, schedule slippages, and performance problems. In an effort to confront these challenges, the department is undertaking a realignment to centralize its IT management structure. This testimony summarizes the department's actions to realign its management structure to provide greater authority and accountability over its IT budget and resources and the impact of these actions to date. In developing this testimony, GAO reviewed previous work on the department's realignment and related budget issues, analyzed pertinent documentation, and interviewed VA officials to determine the current status and impact of the department's efforts to centralize the management of its IT budget and operations.

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## Topics

Information Technology

AccountabilityCost overrunsFederal procurementFuture budget projectionsInformation managementInformation resources managementInformation technologyIT investment managementPerformance measuresProgram managementSchedule slippagesStrategic planningTechnology assessmentTechnology modernization programsVeterans