Why Tech in Government Moves So Slow

Trying to get new tech into government agencies is like wading through quicksand while juggling flaming torches. It’s slow, messy, and full of headaches. There are tons of old-school systems, endless rules, and a whole lot of waiting.

But is there a reason for all this sluggishness, or is the system just busted?

Pete Waterman, director of FedRAMP is all too aware of the problem and actively working to solve it. Hear directly from Pete on the problems the government faces adopting new tech and the changes coming:

Old Tech and Red Tape Galore

First off, things in government move slooow. Like, molasses-in-January slow.

A big reason?

They’re stuck with a ton of ancient tech. There are clunky systems from way back that barely work.

HERE’S the deal: these are what folks call “legacy tech.” It’s like trying to sync your brand-new smartphone with a dial-up modem. Not gonna happen smoothly.

Then there’s the bureaucracy.

Oh boy, the rules. There are so many, and everyone’s paranoid about screwing up.

Nobody wants to be the guy who gets slammed with angry emails from auditors or watchdog groups, so every decision’s triple-checked. It’s like tiptoeing through a minefield with a stack of forms.

Then, on top of it all, there’s the Authorization to Operate (ATO) process. That’s the security gauntlet every tech product has to run to get used in a federal agency.

Sounds straightforward, right? Wrong. Agencies have ATO schedules booked out a year and a half, two years in advance. Their security folks — the ISSOs — are swamped, with calendars locked in for stuff like “March 16 to April 14” for some random project.

Want to slip your shiny, FedRAMP-approved cloud service in?

You’re duking it out for a slot 18 months away, and someone else is probably eyeing that same spot.

It’s nuts.

A Never-Ending ATO Process

Think you’re home free once you hit the ATO stage? Ha, nope.

Every agency’s got its own way of doing things. You might be like, “Sweet, we’re approved, let’s roll!”

Then someone else at the agency pipes up with, “Uh, I’ve got different questions.”

Boom, you’re back to square one.

Agencies tweak the tech to match their mission. You’ll need to flip some features on for one and off for another. All of that means more reviews.

Here’s the thing: if you’re using software to track pencils, it’s chill. Low stakes. But use that same software to track tanks or nukes? Suddenly, everyone’s sweating bullets, and the security checks get hardcore.

Same tool, totally different vibe depending on the job.

Contractors and the Talent Problem in Government Tech Progress

Oh, and here’s another fun bit: the government doesn’t exactly have a tech genius squad on payroll. Instead, they lean hard on contractors and consultants to build and roll out this stuff.

It’s just not set up to hire tech rockstars in-house.

So, you’ve got these outsiders trying to navigate the agency’s quirks, which can make things clunky and expensive.

It’s a bit like hiring a chef to cook in someone else’s kitchen. Sure, they’re talented, but they don’t know where the spices are.

Are There Benefits of Slowly Adopting Tech?

Okay, so the government’s slow as heck, but is there an upside?

Kinda.

Moving slow can shield you from big screw-ups. Private companies can be like, “Screw it, we’ll launch this app for iPhone only and deal with Android later.” The government? No way.

They’ve gotta make sure everyone can use it. That’s every single American, no exceptions. That takes a ton of planning and testing to avoid leaving anyone in the dust. It’s this big machine built to keep things fair and inclusive.

Plus, the caution comes from scars of past mistakes. And some seriously old laws, like the Anti-Deficiency Act. It’s a rule set up in 1884 that says the government can’t accept services without paying upfront.

For years, people thought that meant no software-as-a-service (SaaS) apps, since you pay after using them.

Eventually folks figured out, “Hey, this can work with a 140+-year-old law that never imagined the internet.” Crazy, right?

How Can Government Tech Move Faster?

So, can the government move faster without screwing up security or leaving people out? Maybe.

Streamlining that ATO process, hiring more tech talent in-house, and updating those dusty laws could help.

But, it’s a balancing act. Speed’s great, but they’ve gotta keep things secure and fair for everyone.

Moving Faster with FedRAMP 20x

FedRAMP 20x was announced in March, 2025. The goal is to make it easier and faster for the government to adopt modern tech solutions.

Want to get involved?

The FedRAMP 20x phase 1 pilot is accepting submissions as of May 19, 2025 for FedRAMP Low.
Join working groups to weigh in on changes you’d like to see. FedRAMP director Pete Waterman himself has asked for more comments

→ Learn how FedRAMP 20x will affect your SaaS

If you’re considering FedRAMP, we’d love to help. Paramify provides a risk-based security approach that automatically generates machine-readable documentation.

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