Unclear objectives persist in Trump administration's federal IT policy, according to ex-officials
The Trump administration, seven months old, is setting its priorities for the next 18 months, with the President's Management Agenda (PMA) yet to be finalized. One of the key figures driving this agenda is Federal Chief Information Officer (CIO) Greg Barbaccia, who was appointed in January 2025 and also named the federal chief AI officer.
Barbaccia's policy direction emphasizes federal IT modernization, cybersecurity enhancements, and the transformative adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) across government agencies. He is tasked with leading the Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer Council (CAIOC) that coordinates interagency efforts on AI adoption, regulatory adaptation, infrastructure modernization, and scaling AI solutions across the federal ecosystem.
One of the key elements of Barbaccia’s policy priorities is the rapid adoption and integration of AI. He aims to improve efficiency, streamline public services, automate manual processes, and augment human skills rather than replace personnel. AI is seen as a central enabler for a more responsive and impactful government, particularly in offsetting federal workforce shortages.
True modernization, according to Barbaccia, requires re-engineering government workflows and practices, not merely converting paper to electronic forms or digitizing existing processes. He advocates automating repetitive tasks, making data actionable, enabling collaborative decision-making, and changing behaviors to fully transform federal operations.
While cybersecurity is less prominently detailed, given Barbaccia’s oversight of federal IT policy and spending, cybersecurity modernization is implicit in his strategic planning to ensure robust, secure technology infrastructures aligned with the accelerated adoption of AI and digital services.
The industry focus is on mission efficiency, regardless of political changes. However, federal CIOs are waiting for more explicit policy direction. Simon Szykman, for instance, is anxiously waiting to read the AI action plan, which was released by the Trump administration in July. Quantum information science is another priority, but there is currently no explicit policy or direction.
Meanwhile, a panel of former federal CIOs discussed what they are looking for from Federal CIO Greg Barbaccia. David Bray, one of the panel members, is waiting for a federal response to Salt Typhoon and Vault Typhoon, a cyber attack believed to be from China that compromised at least nine telecommunications internet service providers.
The Department of Health and Human Services made significant changes for the Make America Healthy Again initiative. The Department of Interior focused on natural resources and heritage, while supplying energy to power the nation's future. The Department of State shifted its focus and mission statement in February.
Despite massive budget cuts in research agencies, AI is one of the priorities not subject to budget cuts. The PMA is required by law for agencies to do strategic plans, and the Office of Management and Budget has teased some of their priorities. The PMA is expected to bring some priorities for the next 12 months.
[1] White House, National AI Action Plan, July 2025. [2] Federal News Network, Greg Barbaccia Named Federal CIO, 1st Federal AI Officer, 2025. [3] Nextgov, Barbaccia Outlines AI-Centric Modernization Plan, 2025. [4] Federal Times, Barbaccia Emphasizes Modernization Beyond Digitization, 2025. [5] GovTech, Barbaccia Discusses AI's Role in Federal Workforce, 2025.
Budget cuts have not extended to AI priorities, as it is seen as a non-negotiable part of the Trump administration's modernization agenda under Federal Chief Information Officer Greg Barbaccia. Data-and-cloud-computing and technology are essential components in Barbaccia's strategy to transform government workflows, especially in the areas of data actionability, cybersecurity, and AI adoption.
