Healthcare.gov is just one of hundreds of federal IT debacles

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The healthcare.gov launch debacle is just the latest in a long string of federal technology project failures, according to the Los Angeles Times. For example, in 2012 the Government Services Administration launched SAM.gov, a project to tie together nine different contracting databases. But the site missed its deadline by months, and security flaws may have exposed users’ personal information. The Times reports that 700 different federal information technology projects are in trouble, according to a report released in January.

The problems stem from an antiquated procurement system, a lack of government technologists, and widespread budget cutting. To top it all off, contracts are awarded to the companies with years of experience writing government contract proposals, instead of those best suited to do the work.