$444 Million Later, USDA Only Achieved 1.5 Percent of its Goal to Update IT System

[Geee]

Free Beacon:

Two years past its deadline and $140 million over budget, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has only completed 1.5 percent of its goal to update its IT system.

 

The Modernize and Innovate the Delivery of Agricultural Systems (MIDAS) program was intended to act as a more efficient IT system that streamlines its aid programs for farmers. However, after spending nearly a half a billion dollars on the project, the USDA has only finished one out of 66 of the project’s tasks.

 

“In response to a longstanding need to modernize the delivery of farm programs, the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) initiated a business enterprise solution called Modernize and Innovate the Delivery of Agricultural Systems (MIDAS),” according to an audit by the Office of Inspector General (OIG). “FSA reported to Congress in 2010 that $305 million would allow it to consolidate its 31 farm programs into MIDAS by the end of fiscal year (FY) 2012.”

 

“MIDAS is 2 years overdue and approximately $140 million over budget and has not delivered the promised enterprise solution,” the OIG said.

[clearvision]

Any IT upgrade that takes 5 years (and 2years out of plan) is already out of date.