A Government Accountability Office review found that most federal agencies are not using the Office of Personnel Management’s Cyber Workforce Dashboard, raising questions about the tool’s effectiveness in addressing governmentwide cyber workforce challenges.
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What Did GAO Find About Agency Use?
GAO reported that five of six agencies reviewed, along with OPM itself, were not using the dashboard designed to support workforce planning. The General Services Administration was the only agency using the tool, primarily to inform staffing decisions. However, all six agencies cited issues with the dashboard’s functionality, access and data usability, while also noting communication challenges with OPM regarding the platform.
Why Is the Cyber Workforce Dashboard Underperforming?
The dashboard, launched in 2023, was designed to provide a government-wide view of federal cybersecurity workforce data and enable agency benchmarking. However, agencies reported issues with functionality, access and data usability, along with communication gaps with OPM. Moreover, OPM has not assessed usage across roughly 20 additional agencies or collected formal feedback to guide improvements. GAO said these challenges have limited its effectiveness in addressing the shortage of skilled IT professionals.
What Actions Did GAO Recommend?
GAO recommended that OPM gather and analyze data on the dashboard’s use, as well as feedback from the agency on its limitations. It also advised OPM to evaluate the costs and make an evidence-based decision on whether to discontinue the dashboard or enhance it to address the identified issues. OPM partially concurred, stating it will work with the Office of the National Cyber Director and the Office of Management and Budget to determine next steps.
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