Former Federal CIO, Suzette Kent, joins Francis to dissect the pivotal modernization challenges facing every federal agency. With the future of the Technology Modernization Fund (TMF) hanging in the balance—especially as the Trump administration’s FY 2026 budget proposes zero dollars for it—Kent offers a candid, insider perspective on what the next generation of federal IT funding could (and should) look like.

Listeners will learn what alternative funding mechanisms could emerge, and why evolving how we fund tech change is vital in an age of rapid innovation, cyber threats, AI adoption, and outdated legislative frameworks. Suzette emphasizes the importance of internal agency alignment—among CIOs, CFOs, and legal teams—to control their tech destiny rather than ceding those funds elsewhere.

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