Home | En Español | Contact Us | A to Z | |
HUD Archives: News Releases
NATIONAL ACADEMY OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION SAYS HUD MAKES "MAJOR PROGRESS" IN IMPROVING ITS MANAGEMENT PERFORMANCE WASHINGTON - "HUD has made major progress in the past year" in improving its management performance and planning to achieve its strategic objectives, according to a report issued today by the independent National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA). "Secretary Andrew M. Cuomo, the department leadership team, and staff deserve commendation for this substantial progress," the NAPA report says. "This report tells the story of how HUD has moved from criticism to commendation" as a result of reforms initiated by Cuomo. NAPA is recognized for its expertise in management of public organizations. It employs former top-level federal government executives to evaluate the performance of federal agencies. "This independent outside study validates the hard work of HUD employees around the nation who've turned our plans for management reform into reality," Cuomo said. "It shows we're not just talking about management reform - we're getting the job done, and creating a more efficient and effective HUD." Three Congressmen who reviewed the NAPA report said it was clear evidence of major management improvements at the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Congressman James Leach of Iowa - Chairman of the House Committee on Housing, Banking and Financial Services - said: "Just five years ago, NAPA raised the possibility of dismantling HUD if accountability within the Department could not be improved. Today's report recognizes significant progress with HUD and lays out a framework for continued improvement. There should be no doubt: HUD's existence is no longer in jeopardy. The federal role in bolstering housing and community development activities is critical for expanding civil society in America today." Congressman John LaFalce of New York, Ranking Member of the Committee that Leach chairs, said: "The National Academy of Public Administration has concluded that HUD is making substantial progress in implementing reforms. That is good news to first-time homebuyers, community development corporations, and the millions of low-income tenants that rely on opportunities created by HUD." Congressman James Walsh of New York, Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on VA, HUD and Independent Agencies, said: "I am pleased that HUD continues to receive high marks as indicated in the latest NAPA report relating to their plans to achieve high performance goals. Recommendations for additional solutions are still being discussed, but under Secretary Cuomo's leadership HUD's willingness to move forward on this issue deserves special recognition." The NAPA report measures HUD's compliance with the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA), which holds federal agencies accountable to deliver what the report calls "results that make a difference in the lives of the people and businesses served by federal programs." "The (NAPA) panel believes that the Secretary's commitment to make GPRA implementation part of his personal agenda and use the resulting strategic and annual plans as primary tools for managing the department, and follow-up actions by the Deputy Secretary and other top leaders in the department, represent substantial steps toward fuller use of GPRA's tools," according to the report. The report points out that Congressmen Leach and LaFalce sent HUD a letter commending the Department for "significant improvements in its FY 2000 annual performance plan." The NAPA report cites these specific improvements in HUD's Annual Performance Plan for Fiscal Year 2000:
HUD's 2020 Management Reform Plan was issued by Cuomo in June 1997. The plan stated that it was designed to transform HUD from "the poster child for inept government" that "has been plagued for years by scandal and mismanagement" into "a new HUD, a HUD that works." The NAPA report calls on HUD to build on all the progress it has made to make still further management improvements. The report issued today follows a NAPA report issued in April on HUD's procurement reforms. The April report said HUD has taken a series of actions to improve its contracting operations resulting in "substantial progress toward the goal of developing and implementing a model procurement system." The two NAPA reports are the latest in a series of reviews by outside observers verifying HUD's progress in reforming its management and operations. These observers include government reinvention expert and management consultant David Osborne, management consultant Booz-Allen & Hamilton, and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (see attachment). Key management reforms implemented at HUD under Cuomo's leadership include:
EXCERPTS OF INDEPENDENT REVIEWS OF HUD'S MANAGEMENT REFORMS
Content Archived: January 20, 2009 |
| ||||||||||||||