White House Information Technology:

Information and information technology (IT) resources are critical to the U.S. social, political, and economic well-being. They enable the Federal Government to provide quality services to citizens, generate and disseminate knowledge, and facilitate greater productivity and advancement as a Nation. It is important for the Federal Government to maximize the quality and security of Federal information systems, and to develop and implement uniform and consistent information resources management policies in order to inform the public and improve the productivity, efficiency, and effectiveness of agency programs. Additionally, as technology evolves, it is important that agencies manage information systems in a way that addresses and mitigates security and privacy risks associated with new information technologies and new information processing capabilities.

These new information technologies and information processing capabilities also provide significant opportunities for agencies. The deeply embedded nature of IT in all Federal agency missions and business processes, and the emergence of the digital economy, combined with the increasing interconnection of technology and public services, has changed the way we share information, changed the way we use and view technology, and has forever changed Americans’ expectations. To meet expectations of the American people and facilitate innovation, the Federal Government must continue to transform itself to embrace and respond to the digital revolution by developing and maintaining a top-notch workforce and delivering secure, world-class digital services that serve the public. With IT at the core of nearly everything the Federal Government does, agencies must continually identify ways to apply new and emerging technologies that can fundamentally improve the way Government works and delivers services to the American people in the most cost-effective way possible. Delivering world-class digital services requires the Federal Government to change its approach to buying, building, and delivering IT and information. This Circular is designed to help drive the transformation of the Federal Government and the way it builds, buys, and delivers technology by institutionalizing more agile approaches intended to facilitate the rapid adoption of changing technologies, in a way that enhances information security, privacy, and management of information resources across all Federal programs and services.