MAKING GOVERNMENT MORE EFFECTIVE-Continued

this new operating environment, the Administration believes the program has evolved to a stage at which less reliance on direct appropriations is required.

To reduce duplication within Government services, the Budget also proposes to terminate the Public Telecommunications Facilities, Planning and Construction program. This program has recently targeted funding toward the purchase of digital transmission equipment by public broadcasting stations; the 2006 Budget proposes that a portion of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting's already enacted 2006 funding be made available for this purpose.

To improve efficiency, the Budget also streamlines administrative layers within the Economics and Statistics Administration and the Technology Administration.

Update on the President's Management Agenda

The table below provides an update on the Department of Commerce's implementation of the President's Management Agenda as of December 31, 2004.

Arrows indicate change in status since evaluation on September 30, 2004.

During 2004, Commerce made significant progress in reducing workforce skill gaps in mission critical areas and reducing average hiring times. Commerce also resolved remaining areas of financial management non-compliance and developed a plan for expanding the use of its financial reporting systems to improve operations in additional key business areas; actively contributed to several E-Government initiatives, including Export.gov to improve potential exporters' access to trade information; and completed Program Assessment Rating Tool evaluations on over two-thirds of its programs.

MEETING PRESIDENTIAL GOALS

Leading the Global War on Terror by eliminating sanctuaries for terrorism, capturing or killing al-Qaida's most senior leaders and al-Qaida associated individuals.

Supporting democratic elections in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Enabling field commanders in Iraq to fund reconstruction projects quickly.

• Transforming the way wars are fought, with both new organizational strategies and weapons systems and equipment:

Executing new strategies to improve the way the Army and Navy deploy their forces;

Moving troops from their Cold War footing to new strategic locations and approaches through the Global Posture Initiative; and

- Pursuing an aggressive strategy of "spiral" development to ensure that new technologies are deployed sooner.

Supporting a Compassionate Society

• Supporting our troops and their families to enable accomplishment of the Department of Defense's mission and to recognize the sacrifice they make on a daily basis:

Providing quality medical care to uniformed service members and their families; and

- Providing excellent educational opportunities to troops, particularly those serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, and quality housing through a nearly complete privatization program.

MEETING PRESIDENTIAL GOALS-Continued

Making Government More Effective

• Implementing a program that converts military positions to civilian positions to free up troops for more high-priority warfighting missions.

Transferring the background investigation section of the Defense Security Service to the Office of Personnel Management, enabling the Department to focus on its core mission.

• Focusing resources and forces where they are most needed through the Base Realignment and Closure initiative.

Instituting new management practices in manufacturing and repair facilities to improve efficiency and increase production.