House bill aims to improve how federal programs are managed

Lawmakers introduced legislation Friday that would force the Obama administration to better manage federal projects and programs.

The Program Management Improvement and Accountability Act sponsored by Government Efficiency Caucus Co-chairmen Reps. Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) would direct the deputy director for management at the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to adopt government-wide standards, policies and guidelines for managing agency projects and programs.

{mosads}“From over-budget acquisition projects to programs running beyond projected timelines, cost overruns can typically be boiled down to poor management practices,” Young said in a news release. “This legislation would streamline processes across the federal government, allowing taxpayers to see huge savings simply through more efficient operation.”

The bill would designate a program management improvement officer within each individual agency to implement the management policies and develop internal agency strategies to influence training and education, incentive recruitment of project managers and encourage others to use best practices.