Cyber Workforce Dashboard Not Used by Agencies, Needs Improvements
Summary
The GAO found that the Office of Personnel Management's Cyber Workforce Dashboard is largely unused by federal agencies, with five of six selected agencies and OPM itself not utilizing the tool due to functionality and data issues. GAO recommended OPM either terminate the Dashboard or implement significant improvements based on agency feedback.
What changed
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has reported that the Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) Cyber Workforce Dashboard, launched in 2023 to provide a government-wide view of federal cyber workforce data, is not being effectively utilized. Out of six selected agencies and OPM, only the General Services Administration reported using the Dashboard, primarily for workforce planning. All other agencies and OPM cited issues with functionality, data usefulness, and communication with OPM as reasons for non-use.
GAO has recommended that OPM either terminate the Dashboard or address the reported feedback from agencies to improve its functionality and data utility. Without this action, OPM cannot determine the extent of non-use among the nearly 20 other federal agencies with access, hindering its ability to make informed decisions about the Dashboard's future. Agencies should be aware of these findings and may be prompted to provide feedback to OPM if the Dashboard is to continue.
What to do next
- OPM to collect and analyze data on Dashboard usage across federal agencies.
- OPM to solicit agency feedback on Dashboard functionality and data utility.
- OPM to determine whether to terminate or improve the Cyber Workforce Dashboard.
Source document (simplified)
GAO-26-108098 Published: Mar 27, 2026. Publicly Released: Mar 27, 2026.
Fast Facts
A shortage of IT professionals and the need for a talented cyber workforce is one of the federal government's most important challenges. The Office of Personnel Management created the Cyber Workforce Dashboard to help federal agencies make informed workforce planning decisions.
But we found that 5 of the 6 agencies we looked at—and OPM itself—don't use the Dashboard. All 6 agencies reported issues with the functionality and usefulness of the data in the Dashboard.
We recommended that OPM either terminate the Dashboard or address feedback from agencies and continue offering it with needed improvements.
Hands typing on a laptop computer with an illustration of technical human resource management charts floating above the keyboard.
Highlights
What GAO Found
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) launched its Cyber Workforce Dashboard in 2023 as a government-wide application for managing the cybersecurity workforce. The intended purpose of the Dashboard was to provide a comprehensive government-wide view of federal cyber workforce data and to allow agencies to benchmark their workforce data against other agencies.
However, five of six selected agencies and OPM, the administrator of the Dashboard, reported they were not using the Dashboard. The General Services Administration was the one agency using it, primarily for workforce planning. All six selected agencies reported limitations with the Dashboard, including communications with OPM, access, functionality, and use of data. OPM reported many of the same types of limitations in managing the effort.
Number of Office of Personnel Management’s Cyber Workforce Dashboard Limitations Experienced by the Six Selected Agencies
Given the lack of use, the Dashboard is not meeting its intended purpose for the six selected agencies. Further, OPM does not know the extent of non-use by the almost 20 other federal agencies that have access to the Dashboard. Additionally, OPM has not solicited feedback on it. Regarding costs, according to OPM officials, the funds spent on the Dashboard effort since its inception were minimal and therefore not covered by a separate budget line item. Officials added that they did not have an estimate of exact costs or future planned costs.
Without information on the extent of use among the more than 20 federal agencies, OPM is limited in knowing whether it should continue or terminate the effort. Expeditiously collecting and analyzing such information, soliciting feedback from agencies, and determining costs are essential to determining the future of the Dashboard.
Why GAO Did This Study
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the Office of the National Cyber Director (ONCD), and prior GAO reports have stated that the federal government faces a persistent shortage of cyber and IT professionals. Building and maintaining a talented cyber workforce is one of the federal government’s most important challenges. The Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 includes a provision for GAO to periodically evaluate federal agencies’ information security policies and practices. This includes evaluating agencies’ cybersecurity workforce management policies and applications, such as the Dashboard. This report (1) describes the Dashboard, (2) describes how selected federal agencies are using the Dashboard to support their workforce planning efforts, and (3) determines the extent to which the Dashboard is meeting its intended purpose. GAO randomly selected six agencies, divided into three tiers based on their reported fiscal year 2025 IT spending. GAO interviewed relevant OPM and agency officials and reviewed Dashboard documentation and usage metrics that OPM initially gathered after the Dashboard was launched. GAO also analyzed applicable guidance, best practices, and relevant Dashboard documentation.
Recommendations
GAO is making one recommendation to OPM to collect and analyze information on Dashboard use, solicit agency feedback on Dashboard limitations, determine the costs, and make an evidence-based decision to either terminate the Dashboard or continue offering it to agencies with needed improvements. OPM partially concurred and stated that it will work with ONCD and OMB to determine what actions, if any, should be taken and OMB to determine what actions, if any, should be taken.
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Office of Personnel Management | The Director of the Office of Personnel Management should collect and analyze information on Dashboard use, solicit agency feedback on Dashboard limitations, determine the costs, and make an evidence-based decision to either terminate the Dashboard or continue offering it to agencies with needed improvements. (Recommendation 1) | Open When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information. |
Full Report
GAO Contacts
David (Dave) Hinchman Director Information Technology and Cybersecurity HinchmanD@gao.gov
Media Inquiries
Sarah Kaczmarek Managing Director Office of Public Affairs media@gao.gov
Public Inquiries
Topics
Government Operations IT investment management Federal workforce Workforce planning Cybersecurity Personnel management Information security Federal agencies Human capital management Labor force Best practices
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