Y2K remains top tech priority in 2000 budget

Solving the year 2000 problem remains the federal government's top technology priority, according to President Clinton's proposed fiscal 2000 budget. Computer security, electronic access to government services and data sharing are other top technology issues in the budget, which was released Monday.

Y2K was the top issue in last year's budget as well. Since then, federal agencies report they have completed Y2K work on 61 percent of their most important systems. In 1999, agencies will focus on testing their systems and developing contingency plans, the budget said.

"In 2000, agencies will focus on assuring that federal programs continue to deliver uninterrupted service to the public," the budget said.

Federal Y2K costs exceeded $2 billion in 1998 and will again in 1999, according to the most recent Office of Management and Budget estimates. Y2K costs will be about $641.3 million in fiscal 2000.

Computer security is a new top priority for the administration, as part of the White House's critical information infrastructure protection initiative. The White House is increasingly concerned that terrorists or other enemies could wreak havoc on the nation by disrupting telecommunications, banking and finance, energy, transportation and government systems.

"The federal government should be a model of infrastructure protection, linking security measures to business risks and agency missions," the budget said.

Security also factors into another top federal technology priority: providing government services electronically. In 2000, the administration will issue guidelines on how agencies should use electronic signatures to verify identities and establish the legal validity of electronic documents. The budget notes that the Government Paperwork Elimination Act of 1998 requires the administration to develop electronic signature guidelines and calls on agencies to make all their forms available electronically.

Privacy concerns are on the administration's mind as it promotes data sharing among federal agencies and with state governments. The administration wants agencies to share data so they can improve government statistics and verify benefit recipient data.

For example, the Education Department will propose legislation allowing it to use the National Directory of New Hires to verify income reported on student loan applications. The directory is run by the Office of Child Support Enforcement at the Department of Health and Human Services.

The budget also lists major information technology investments and the benefits of those investments. Major technology spending in fiscal 2000 includes:

• $500 million for modernization and maintenance of student financial aid computer systems.
• $280 million for the Census 2000 computer system.
• The Defense Department's $122.6 million Global Command and Control System and $111.7 million Defense Message System.
• $236 million for the State Department's Diplomatic and Consular Systems Modernization. Spending on the project nears $800 million from 1998 to 2000.
• Spending on IRS technology modernization totaling $500 million from 1998 to 2000.