Y2K Government Report Card
Congress Gives US Agencies a B-
Dateline: 9/12/99
Breaking Y2K News -- 9/22/99 -- In this CNN story, the Senate Special Committee on the Year 2000 Technology Problem reports "remarkable progress" in Y2K readiness by the American health care industry, local governments, small business, education, utilities, banks, and aviation. However, the committee reports concerns that Y2K problems overseas could still impact the United States.
The U.S. Government's Y2K Report Card
Your PC's ready. The banks and electric companies say they are. Y2K? A day at the beach in January, right? Maybe, yet a lot of our Y2K comfort depends on the health and welfare of key US Government computer systems. How comfortable should we be?
The House Committee on Government Management, Information and Technology, chaired by Rep. Stephen Horn (R-Calif.), is charged with tracking the Y2K progress of government agencies. In a September 10, 1999 press conference, Rep. Horn announced an overall grade of B-minus, the same grade as last quarter.
In their latest Report Card, Horn's committee assessed Y2K readiness grades to key federal programs providing vital services to the American People.
"Thirty-six programs remain at risk of failure when the clock ticks past midnight on Dec. 31," Horn stated. "In many cases, the federal agency responsible for the program may be compliant, but its business partners -- state and local governments and the private sector -- who assist in delivering the service are not ready."
View the Complete Statement by Rep. Horn - 09/10/99 (.pdf format)
The tables below show Rep. Horn's latest report card of Y2K progress by key Federal agencies. Two grades are shown for each. The first grade indicates the agency's progress in bringing their internal (mission-critical) computer systems into Y2K compliance. The second grade shows Y2K readiness of programs having the greatest impact on the public. Social Security Benefits, for example. Links in the tables lead to the Y2K pages of each department.
Y2K Grades of OMB-Designated "High Impact" Federal Agencies
The first grade (Aug. .99) is for readiness of mission critical systems only.
The second grade (Aug. '99 Program Grade) is for readiness of the agency's individual OMB-designated high-impact programs.
The links lead to the agency's Y2K pages (if any). Each of them contains important information for citizens.
Department or Agency |
Aug |
Aug '99 |
| SSA Social Security Administration |
A |
A |
| FEMA Federal Emergency Management Admn. |
A | D |
| HUD Housing & Urban Development |
A | C- |
| Education Department of Education |
A | C |
| OPM Office of Personnel Management |
A | D |
| Labor Department of Labor |
A | F |
| State Department of State |
A | A |
| VA Veterans Administration |
A- | A |
| Interior Department of Interior |
A- | F |
| Commerce Department of Commerce |
B | B+ |
| DOE Department of Energy |
B | C |
| DOT Department of Transportation |
B- | F |
| HHS Health and Human Services |
C | F |
| USDA US Department of Agriculture |
C- | D |
| Justice Department of Justice |
C- | C/A |
| Treasury Department of Treasury |
C- | D |
| DOD Department of Defense |
D | D |
Overall Assessment |
B- |
* Readiness of mission-critical internal systems
** Readiness of OMB high-impact Federal programs
Y2K Readiness of OMB High-Impact Programs as of 09/10/99
Program |
Ready? | Ready By |
| Child Nutrition Programs | No | 12/99 |
| Food Safety Inspections | No | 12/99 |
| Nutrition Programs for Women Children & Infants | No | 12/99 |
| Food Stamp Program | No | 12/99 |
Program |
Ready? | Ready By |
| National Weather Service | No | 11/99 |
| Patent and Trademark Processing | Yes |
Program |
Ready? | Ready By |
| Military Hospitals | No | 11/99 |
| Military Retirement System | No | 12/99 |
(Military branches are responsible for their own Y2K readiness)
Program |
Ready? | Ready By |
| Student Aid | No | Fall 99 |
Program |
Ready? | Ready By |
| Federal Electric Power Generation/Delivery | No | 10/99 |
(Does NOT involve public power providers.)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Program |
Ready? | Ready By |
| Disaster Relief | No | 11/99 |
Program |
Ready? | Ready By |
| Child Care | No | 12/99 |
| Child Support Enforcement | No | 12/99 |
| Child Welfare | No | 12/99 |
| Disease Monitoring / Ability to Issue Warnings | Yes | |
| Indian Health Services | No | 9/99 |
| Low Income Home Energy Assistance | No | 12/99 |
| Medicaid | No | 12/99 |
| Medicare | No | ??? |
| Organ Transplant Programs | No | 8/99 |
| Temporary Assistance for Needy Families | No | 12/99 |
Housing and Urban Development
Program |
Ready? | Ready By |
| GNMA Housing Loans | No | 8/99 |
| Section 8 Rental Assistance | No | 9/99 |
| Public Housing | No | 12/99 |
| FHA Mortgage Insurance | No | 9/99 |
| Community Development Block Grants | No | 9/99 |
Program |
Ready? | Ready By |
| Bureau of Indian Affairs Programs | No | 12/99 |
Justice Department
Program |
Ready? | Ready By |
| Federal Prisons | No | 8/99 |
| National Crime Information Center | Yes | |
| Immigration & Naturalization | No | 10/99 |
Program |
Ready? | Ready By |
| Unemployment Insurance | No | 12/99 |
Office of Personnel Management
Program |
Ready? | Ready By |
| Federal Employee Health Benefits | No | 10/99 |
| Federal Employee Life Insurance | No | 10/99 |
| Federal Employee Retirement Benefits | No | 10/99 |
Program |
Ready? | Ready By |
| Mail Service | No | 11/99 |
Social Security Administration
Program |
Ready? | Ready By |
| Social Security Benefits | Yes |
Program |
Ready? | Ready By |
| Passport Application & Processing | Yes |
Program |
Ready? | Ready By |
| Air Traffic Control System | No | 12/99 |
| Maritime Safety Program | No | 12/99 |
Program |
Ready? | Ready By |
| Cross-border Inspection Services | No | 10/99 |
Program |
Ready? | Ready By |
| Veterans Benefits | Yes | |
| Veterans Health Care | Yes |
Y2K and the 911 System
It's the last thing you'll want to use on 1/1/2000, but if you have to, will 911 work?
Your Y2K Readiness Checklist
What should you do to get ready? Here's a good list.
Missing Children: Help bring then home.
