But Just 28 Percent Give Their Agency’s Software Development Practices an “A” for Ability to Support Innovation
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – February 26, 2025 – Federal civilian IT decision-makers believe current software development practices are falling short, with just over a third citing top marks for security and efficiency, and even fewer for innovation. Still, Feds are optimistic that the incoming administration will drive rapid advancements – with the vast majority expecting increases in AI-assisted, cloud-native, and open source development practices. These insights came from a new report from MeriTalk, government IT’s top digital platform, and ICF, a global consulting and technology services provider.
The report, “Federal Software Reimagined: Fueling Mission Success with Open Source, AI, and Cloud,” is based on a survey of 100 IT decision-makers from Federal civilian agencies, exploring how these leaders are transforming software development strategies and advancing their missions with open source, AI, and cloud.
Just over a third of respondents rate their agency’s software development practices an “A” for security and efficiency (38 and 37 percent, respectively). Even fewer – just 28 percent – say the same for their ability to support innovation. When it comes to modernization, IT leaders cite security concerns as the primary roadblock. Additional challenges vary by development approach, including a limited availability of high-quality data for AI-assisted development, data interoperability issues across platforms for cloud-native development, and maintenance and support challenges with open source software. Seventy-five percent of respondents believe their agency risks falling behind in mission delivery if they do not adopt advanced software development practices.
“Modern software development strategies are significantly impacting Federal civilian agencies’ overall mission success,” said Kyle Tuberson, Chief Technology Officer, ICF. “To address this effectively, agencies must leverage AI-assisted development, prioritize cloud-native approaches for security and scalability, and embrace open source to drive innovation, efficiency, and collaboration.”
The report is based on a survey of 100 IT decision-makers from Federal civilian agencies conducted in January 2025. The quantitative research has a margin of error of ±9.78% at a 95% confidence level. To view the full findings, download the report.
About MeriTalk
The voice of tomorrow’s government today, MeriTalk is a public-private partnership focused on improving the outcomes of government IT. Our award-winning editorial team and world-class events and research staff produce unmatched news, analysis, and insight. The goal: a more efficient, responsive, and citizen-centric government. MeriTalk connects with an audience of 160,000 Federal community contacts. For more information, visit https://www.meritalk.com/ or follow us on Twitter/X, @MeriTalk. MeriTalk is a 300Brand organization.
About ICF
ICF is a global consulting and technology services company with approximately 9,000 employees, but we are not your typical consultants. At ICF, business analysts and policy specialists work together with digital strategists, data scientists and creatives. We combine unmatched industry expertise with cutting-edge engagement capabilities to help organizations solve their most complex challenges. Since 1969, public and private sector clients have worked with ICF to navigate change and shape the future. Learn more at icf.com.
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