E-gov projects to get less money

<FONT SIZE=2>The president's budget proposal for fiscal 2004 cuts funds for 25 cross-agency e-government projects by nearly 24 percent, to $173.9 million, not including investments by the Defense and Federal Emergency Management Agency, to be announced next month. Thirteen projects got more money, nine projects less and two held steady.</FONT>

The president's budget proposal for fiscal 2004 cuts funds for 25 cross-agency e-government projects by nearly 24 percent, to $173.9 million, not including investments by the Defense and Federal Emergency Management Agency, to be announced next month. Thirteen projects got more money, nine projects less and two held steady.

Funding decreased for two reasons, said Mark Forman, associate director for e-government and information technology in the Office of Management and Budget. The projects were designed to be complete within 18 to 24 months, so some, including Recreation.gov and EZ Tax Filing, will soon end. Also, agencies cost estimates have improved and are decreasing.

E-Payroll and E-Training got increases. E-Payroll got $22 million from three agencies, for a total of $48.4 million. E-Training got more than $9 million from 10 agencies, including nine that did not request funding for it in 2003.