NEXT STEPS FOR PART IN THE FY 2007 BUDGET CYCLE
In the FY 2007 budget, OMB discussed GAO’s recommendations that OMB (1) select
PART reassessments and crosscutting reviews based on factors including the relative
priorities, costs, and risks associated with clusters of related programs, and reflective of
congressional input; and (2) solicit congressional views on the performance issues and
program areas most in need of review, the most useful performance data, and the presentation
of that data. OMB noted that it is using the PART to conduct ‘‘crosscutting
reviews’’ to improve the performance of similar programs in areas that are expected to
yield meaningful results and that OMB and agencies are also actively soliciting the views
of the Congress in PART assessments, on improvement plans, and in oversight efforts.
They also said that Congressional guidance would be a factor in choosing topics for the
next group of crosscutting analyses. OMB also reported that crosscutting PART reviews
help to analyze performance across agencies, to improve the performance of programs
with similar purpose and design, and to break down barriers between federal, state, and
local levels so that all are working toward the same goal. OMB reported on three PART
crosscutting reviews for the FY 2007 budget, and an updated one from the FY 2006