RESUMO
The COVID-19 pandemic has radically altered the federal government, demonstrating the need for increased attention and resources in combating cybersecurity threats and providing a modern digital government experience to constituents. A severe cyber skills gap within the federal government, coupled with an increasingly aging federal workforce, has left some federal agencies struggling to modernize. This crisis also presents unique opportunities. As the push for a technologically modern federal government grows along with recognition of the importance of federal cybersecurity, a number of possibilities for the modern federal agency have opened up and are on the path to becoming certainties. To take advantage of the opportunities presented by these changes and to best position their respective agencies going forward, Chief Information Officers (CIOs) and agency executives should prioritize solutions to attract, train, and retain a technologically savvy workforce. This requires carving out or seeking funding for different information technology (IT) pay scales to compete with private practice, rebranding the federal government to attract young talent, and centering customer experience in the design and development of new programs, websites, and digital services that serve as the bedrock of IT modernization.