Obama renews effort to improve government efficiency
President Obama on Monday reignited his 2008 promise to make government more efficient, directing his cabinet to to create an "aggressive management agenda" for his second term to deliver smarter, more innovative government services.
"As anyone knows, dealing with the federal government is not always high tech, and it's not always user-friendly. So over the past four and a half years, we've worked diligently to change that," Mr. Obama said from the White House. However, he continued, "We are the first to confess that progress does not always come quick and major challenges still remain."
Sylvia Mathews Burwell, the -- the director of the Office of Management and Budget, will lead the cabinet effort to make government more responsive. Government officials will also receive input from 40 "presidential innovation fellows" -- innovators from the private sector who will apply their experience to government.
These efforts have so far led to projects such as My USA, which should make it quicker for people to fill out government forms. Once a person inputs information online, it will be saved so he or she won't have to enter it again, Mr. Obama explained Monday, comparing it to an online shopping experience.
Mr. Obama touted the ways his administration has already helped usher the government into the 21st century. For instance, the Federal Emergency Management Agency now uses satellite data and aerial imaging to determine areas in need of assistance, rather than relying on in-person inspections of damaged housing.
"We've made huge swathes of your government more efficient, more transparent and more accountable than ever before," he said.
