sIn GAO’s latest report on implementation of PART, GAO stated that the PART
process has aided OMB’s oversight of agencies, focused agencies’ efforts to improve
program management, and created or enhanced an evaluation culture within agencies.6
Although the PART has enhanced the focus on performance, the PART remains a laborintensive
process at OMB and agencies. However, GAO also noted that most PART
recommendations are focused on improving outcome measures and data collection, and
are not designed to result in observable short-term performance improvements. As these
necessary first steps on the path to long-term program improvement do not usually lead
to improved short-term results, there is limited evidence to date of the PART’s influence
on outcome-based program results. Moreover, as of February 2006Fthe date of the
most recent available OMB dataFthe majority of follow-up program recommendations
had not yet been fully implemented. By design, OMB has not prioritized them within or
among agencies. Because OMB has chosen to assess nearly all federal programs, OMB
and agency resources are diffused across multiple areas instead of concentrated on those
areas of highest priority both within agencies and across the federal government. This
strategy is likely to lengthen the time it will take to observe measurable change compared
with a more strategic approach. OMB has used the PART as a framework for several