Gerry Connolly Urges US Government to Approve $6B TMF Allocation

Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., said the Biden administration’s $6 billion funding request for the Technology Modernization Fund is necessary to support modernization efforts.

According to Connolly, current TMF funding levels and a “zeroed-out” scenario are not enough to modernize the government’s legacy systems. He suggested that technology investment legislation could allow Congress to debate about appropriate TMF allocations.

Connolly also pointed out that TMF investments should be made now to avoid larger costs and exposure to risks.

The Office of Management and Budget requested $200 million for the TMF for fiscal year 2024 to support technology modernization. However, Connolly said the OMB’s request may not be adequate, FedScoop reported.

The funding mechanism has been the subject of much debate in recent months, with lawmakers calling for a reduction in funding.

In July, the Senate Committee on Appropriations approved legislation that would rescind $290 million from the TMF. The move was criticized by several government and private sector officials, stating that the TMF must be supported because it enables zero trust and cybersecurity modernization efforts.

Despite potential funding cuts, TMF has funded several modernization projects in 2023, including a $3.5 million Department of Labor digital service program and two consumer systems upgrade projects by the Department of Transportation and the Federal Trade Commission.