The Wrap: Bafundo Out at TMF; Quotable Judge Jams OPM; How Much AI Is Enough? Hit our X Poll…
Welcome to The Wrap for Friday, February 28!
From the newsroom at MeriTalk, it’s the quickest read in Federal tech news. Here’s what you need to know today:
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Bafundo Out at TMF
Larry Bafundo, who took charge of the General Services Administration’s ( GSA ) Technology Modernization Fund (TMF) last year, said today he is stepping away from his role at GSA, and on the way out the door had some timely thoughts about how to look at complex technology improvements, and Federal employees who have been under fire for the past several weeks. In revealing his departure from TMF in a?social media post?today, Bafundo talked about the enduring need for TMF to jump-start agency tech modernization projects, and what longer-term modernization steps require. “Modernizing government is about more than just technology – it requires changing complex systems,” Bafundo explained. “Many of the toughest challenges don’t fit into a two- or four-year political cycle,” he said. “And while technology can be a powerful lever, real change often depends on better policy. This is because too often, government programs aren’t designed to deliver value; they are designed to deliver on political compromise. Addressing these root-cause issues requires sustained investment and long-term commitment.” On the human front, the departing TMF boss said, “it has been disheartening to see public servants disparaged in the media recently.” He continued: “Are there opportunities to improve? Yes. But for the most part, public servants are smart, tenacious, and dedicated people who work every day to make the country better. They’re also your neighbors, family members, and friends.”
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Quotable Judge Jams OPM
By now it’s a well circulated story, but Thursday night’s decision by U.S. District Court Judge William Alsup to uphold a temporary restraining order against the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and its orchestration of Federal agency firings of their probationary employees shouldn't slide into history without a mention of the language used by the judge in voicing his opinion from the bench. “The Office of Personnel Management does not have any authority whatsoever under any statute in the history of the universe to hire and fire employees at another agency,” Alsup said. The Wrap has read quite a few court opinions over the years – they are usually on the drier side once committed to paper – and it just goes to show the powerful flavor of the spoken word. Why is the decision important? The judge is saying that agencies relying on firing guidance from OPM may have been misled. “The agencies could thumb their noses at OPM if they wanted to if it’s guidance, but if it’s an order, or cast as an order, the agencies may think they have to comply,” Alsup said. The underlying suit brought by a group of unions also covers a wide swath of the government. The Federal agencies represented in the lawsuit include the National Park Service , the U.S. Department of the Interior 's Bureau of Land Management , the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs , the National Science Foundation (NSF) , the U.S. Small Business Administration , and the United States Department of Defense .
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IRS CDO Ascends to Head Agency
Melanie Krause, who joined the IRS in 2021 as its chief data and analytics officer and more recently has been the tax agency’s chief operating officer, has been named the Internal Revenue Service Commissioner – the title that heads the agency – on an acting basis.?Krause replaces Doug O’Donnell, who was named acting commissioner in January. He is?retiring after 38 years of service working with the IRS. “Melanie Krause and the agency’s leadership team are well positioned to serve during this critical period for the nation in advance of the April tax deadline,” said U.S. Department of the Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Before joining IRS, Krause spent 12 years at the US Government Accountability Office and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General.?
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How Much AI Is Enough? Hit Our X Poll…
We’re asking all X users to weigh in on the question of how much Federal government work do you think should be automated with AI? Please click the link and get your voices heard! Poll ends on Tuesday, March 4.
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Once again, let’s “call IT a day,” but we'll bring you more tomorrow. Until then please check the MeriTalk breaking news website throughout the day for the latest on government IT people, process, and policy. And finally, please hit the news tip jar [with leads, breaking news, or simply your two cents] at [email protected].