About 20 percent of federal programs are unable to demonstrate results, according to a summary of program ratings compiled through OMB’s Program Assessment Ratings Tool for fiscal 2007.
PART ratings are meant to reflect the management and performance of federal programs and have some bearing on White House budget requests, and this year they show that 78 percent of programs are "performing," up from 75 percent a year ago, while 3 percent are "ineffective."
About half of all programs were rated either effective or moderately effective, and in the past programs rated as not effective has been recommended for termination or reductions.
OMB said over 1,000 programs have been assessed with PART totaling over $2.6 trillion in spending.
Of the programs being assessed for the first time, 77 percent were rated as performing and 60 percent are effective or moderately effective, according to OMB.
"The PART holds agencies accountable for achieving results and making government more effective," said OMB deputy management director Clay Johnson.
"Today, we have more information about what works and what doesn’t than ever before, and we expect agencies will continue to improve as agencies, the Administration, and Congress make greater use about this information," he added.
OMB said PART assessments were moved up to September this year so they could play an even greater role in developing the White House’s budget request.
Program ratings are at www.expectmore.gov
