Labor upgrades IT core

Labor Department's fiscal 2006 budget

Although the Labor Department's information technology spending is facing a 3.1 percent reduction, the department is continuing toward creating a coordinated and centralized IT investment strategy.

Nearly $30 million has been allocated for that effort, which is being managed by the chief information officer, to "ensure overall program effectiveness and communication among DOL programs, participants, and employees nationwide," according to the budget documents.

The 2006 proposed budget will focus on upgrading the department's outdated core infrastructure as step toward aligning its enterprise architecture with the Federal Enterprise Architecture. Investments will also be made in local area networks, software, cabling and telecommunications equipment as well as various e-government projects.

The department's proposed IT budget is $409 million for 2006, down from this year's $422. Overall, the department's proposed $54.5 billion budget is an increase of 3.8 percent from this year's level.

Various agencies within the department have allocated funding to either continue IT projects or start new modest ones.