Trade Coalition Asks Congress to Invest in TMF to Strengthen Federal Cybersecurity

Nine industry groups have called on Congress to support additional investments in federal technology modernization projects.

In an open letter to both chambers of Congress, the coalition asked appropriators to meet or exceed the Biden administration’s request to add $300 million to the Technology Modernization Fund, FedScoop reported.

TMF is a government-wide program authorized in 2017 intended to finance modernization projects proposed by agencies. The program has so far received about $1.2 billion in federal investments, including $1 billion from the American Rescue Act.

According to the consortium, the additional $300 million will improve the program’s ability to support agencies’ transition to a zero trust cybersecurity architecture.

Zero trust is a modern security model that is a key element of President Joe Biden’s May 2021 executive order on modernizing the federal government’s cybersecurity.

The consortium said that the additional funding is especially important for agencies just starting out in their zero trust journey.

“These cybersecurity efforts are essential to maintaining a strong federal network defense posture for years to come,” the trade groups said.

The joint letter was signed by the Digital Innovation Alliance, CPA, CompTIA, Information Technology Industry Council, National Defense Industry Association, Professional Services Council, Security Industry Association, Software and Information Industry Association and TechNet.

Federal Chief Information Officer Clare Martorana, chair of the TMF Board in charge of awarding TMF loans, said that the program can only afford to invest in information technology projects with the “greatest chance of success.”

The TMF Board recently awarded funding to the Postal Regulatory Commission to finance the modernization of its internal and public-facing tools.

The Selective Service System, the agency that mobilizes male citizens for national defense, also secured TMF loans to modernize its registration, compliance and verification software.