Industry Group Warns of Bleakest IT Budget in 17 Years

The government's IT budget hasn't been squeezed this hard since Forrest Gump was on the big screen in 1994, according to an industry group survey. Civilian agencies will spend $42.7 billion on technology in fiscal 2012, and see an increase of two percent to $46.8 billion by 2017. Defense technology spending will rise 0.2 percent from $38.4 billion in 2012 to $38.9 billion five years later. The TechAmerica Foundation made these predictions in a survey based on interviews with government executives, Congressional staff and outside experts.

Only four agencies are predicted to buck the trend and increase spending on technology.
"Almost all the increases are driven by mission requirements," said TechAmerica spokesperson Robert Haas at a media briefing on the survey results Monday in Washington. For example, he said, the year-old Affordable Care Act requires that the Health and Human Services and Treasury Departments invest in certain technology. The Justice Department is increasing spending to meet public safety requirements. The Agriculture Department also is increasing its budget to fulfill essential tasks...