Trump Calls for Overhaul of Government's Outdated Computer Systems
June 19 2017 - 7:49PM
Dow Jones News
By Michael C. Bender
WASHINGTON -- Saying the federal government is lagging behind
the "technology revolution," President Donald Trump called for more
than $1 trillion in savings during the next 10 years by overhauling
outdated computer systems and improving information technology.
"Our goal is to lead a sweeping transformation of the federal
government's technology that will deliver dramatically better
services for citizens, stronger protection from cyberattacks," Mr.
Trump said Monday at the White House during a meeting with more
than a dozen executives from some of the nation's top technology
companies.
"That's a big problem, no question about it," he added. "We're
going to be working on it, and we're going to solve the
problem."
Mr. Trump didn't lay out specific plans to reach those savings,
instead pointing to a recent announcement that the Veterans Affairs
Department would be updating its electronic health records. He said
similar announcement would be coming soon.
Heading the White House effort are Jared Kushner, the
president's son-in-law and senior adviser who leads the newly
created White House Office of American Innovation; and Chris
Liddell, a former Microsoft executive and now an assistant to the
president.
Federal agencies maintain about 6,100 data centers that can be
consolidated, Mr. Kushner told the executives during the summit. He
said that the 10 oldest systems are between 39 and 56 years old,
adding that the Pentagon uses floppy disks in some cases.
"We are here to improve the day-to-day lives of the average
citizen," Mr. Kushner said. "That's a core promise, and we are
keeping it."
Mr. Liddell said in an interview that he was pleased with the
ideas the executives suggested. "Our job is now to collate those
and decide which ones we want to pursue," he said.
Apple CEO Tim Cook praised the White House for focusing on
improving its technology, which he said would be an investment that
would quickly pay off.
"The U.S. should have the most modern government in the world,"
Mr. Cook told the president during the start of a meeting reporters
were allowed to observe. "The government should be focused on its
citizens, and the services of the government should be measured on
how its citizens are receiving those services."
Peter Nicholas contributed to this article.
Write to Michael C. Bender at Mike.Bender@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
June 19, 2017 19:34 ET (23:34 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2017 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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