In 1993, to lay the groundwork for performance measurement and accountability, Congress passed the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA).  In response to GPRA, President Bush laid out his own management plan, in the President’s Management Agenda (PMA), which is measured with the Administration’s Program Assessment Rating Tool (PART).

A bystander not familiar with the government’s many layers of programs would be confused by GRPA, much less with PMA, PART, and now Bush is adding yet another layer of bureaucracy into the performance matrix and one more acronym to the long list: “Performance Improvement Officer (PIO)”.

Just when you thought achieving “Green” on the President’s Management Score Card was a meaningful measure of performance, the administration throws another layer to the bureaucracy: so much for making government smaller. 

The President’s solution will add several high level career senior executives or political appointees to fill these positions.  As another executive enforcement arm, the PIO’s will hold program mangers and agency leaders accountable, where failure could affect executive pay. Sorry, no flashy uniforms, just a bunch of suits.

Currently, the Office of Management and Budget oversees the President’s Management Score Card.  So how is OMB's performance according to the President’s Management Score Card?”  As the Administration's worst performer, it looks like the first PIO will be stationed at the OMB!