Facing a $300 million cut in its IT budget, the Social Security Administration is undergoing a comprehensive reorganization according to an email from SSA Commissioner Michael J. Astrue to senior staff and obtained by various media outlets.
“To maximize our efficiency during these lean budget times, I am implementing several functional and organizational realignments now and in the coming weeks,†Astrue wrote.
- The Offices of Innovation and Investment Management will transition from the Office of the Chief Information Officer to the Office of Systems. Going forward, OS will also encompass Health IT and the Division of IT Strategy.
- Ephraim Feig, former associate CIO for vision and strategy, is no longer with the agency, Astrue wrote.
- The Office of Open Government will be restructured with the the Notice Improvement Staff and the Transparency and Citizen Engagement Staff moving to the Office of Communications. The Division of Authentication will move to the Office of Electronic Services in Operations.
- Astrue also wrote he was taking the “first steps†to reorganize functions in the Office of Budget, Finance and Management, including shifting the security and emergency preparedness to a newly created associate commissioner-level Office of Security and Emergency Preparedness.
- The Office of Publications and Logistics Management will be eliminated to in favor of a consolidated logistics office.
Federal News Radio reports the wide-ranging changes to SSA’s organizational chart comes as the agency faces funding reductions. As FNR reports, SSA requested $12.5 billion for administrative expenses for fiscal year 2012 — a $300 million increase. However, Congress is still in the process of approving federal spending bills.
