The Department of Veterans Affairs has announced plans to
bring its IT resources under more centralized control in
order to streamline and modernize its IT environment.
It said it would place the department’s IT budget and
professionals involved in operation and maintenance work
under the assistant secretary for IT, but that workers
involved in system development would remain under their
respective administrations and staff offices.
Secretary of Veterans Affairs, R. James Nicholson said
the reorganization would “enhance our operational
effectiveness, provide standardization, and eliminate
duplication.”
Last year Congress gave VA’s CIO, Robert McFarland, IT
budget authority, but Nicholson put in place a “federated”
structure where the CIO would have control over IT
planning, budget and operations, but not development.
McFarland has announced his resignation effective April
30, reportedly because he feels management has been slow
to reorganize IT, and that staying would get in the way
of forward progress.
