Full Breakdown
Federal CIO Greg Barbaccia to Leave Federal Service on Aug. 31, 2026
7/8/2026, 4:53:33 AM
The Departure Announcement
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) confirmed that Greg Barbaccia, who has served as the federal Chief Information Officer (CIO) since January 2025 and as the chief Artificial Intelligence Officer (AI Officer) since July 2025, will exit federal service on Aug. 31, 2026. No successor or acting official has been named, and Barbaccia’s post-government plans have not been disclosed.
Background and Tenure
Barbaccia entered the federal government after a private-sector career, assuming the CIO role in January 2025. In July 2025 he became the first federal chief AI officer following the White House’s AI Action Plan. He added a third portfolio in February 2025 as acting director of the Technology Transformation Services (TTS) at the General Services Administration. His agenda emphasized empowering agency CIOs, eliminating wasteful duplication, and modernizing legacy procurement rules.
Timeline of Key Milestones
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Jan 2025 | Appointed federal CIO |
| Feb 2025 | Assumed acting directorship of GSA’s TTS |
| Jul 2025 | Designated chief AI officer |
| Dec 2025 | Prioritized waste reduction and rule reform |
| Mar 2026 | OMB memo requiring CIO involvement in IT policy and acquisition |
| May 2026 | Barbaccia highlighted “opportunity to deploy technology … at the speed of the commercial sector” |
| Aug 31 2026 | Scheduled last day in federal service |
Data and Initiatives
- FY 2027 IT Funding: The Trump administration requested a record $75.7 billion for civilian agency IT, $7.7 billion above the 2026 estimate. Twelve of the 23 CFO-Act non-Defense agencies are slated for increases.
- AI Inventory: Under Barbaccia’s oversight, the federal AI inventory expanded to 3,611 documented AI use cases.
- Tech Force Initiative: Co-launched with OPM director Scott Kupor, the program spawned “NASA Force” and “War Force” efforts to recruit technical talent across agencies.
Why It Matters
The federal CIO role shapes government-wide technology strategy, cybersecurity posture, and the adoption of emerging tools such as artificial intelligence. Barbaccia’s tenure linked agency-level modernization to a unified vision, influencing how taxpayer dollars are allocated for digital services and how quickly agencies can emulate commercial-sector innovation cycles.
Official Statements & Responses
- OMB praised Barbaccia’s performance, noting his “excellent job” and expressing that he will be missed.
- In a March 2026 memo, OMB reminded agencies that CIOs must be integral to policy and acquisition decisions and that agencies will be held accountable for compliance.
- Barbaccia’s public remarks emphasized establishing a single standard for government technology and accelerating deployment speed across agencies.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Public sources do not identify an acting federal CIO or chief AI officer after Barbaccia’s departure, and his next professional destination remains undisclosed.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Greg has done an excellent job as federal CIO and chief AI officer. He will certainly be missed when his time here comes to an end,” — OMB spokesperson
- “We will be setting one standard for how government technology works for the American people, from our websites to our use of artificial intelligence,” — Greg Barbaccia, Federal CIO & Chief AI Officer
- “opportunity to deploy technology inside the government at the speed of the commercial sector, but we can do it all together.” — Greg Barbaccia, Federal CIO (May 2026 interview)
- “has been an incredible leader for innovation in the @POTUS administration – thank you for your service to the American people.” — Scott Kupor, Director, Office of Personnel Management (X post)
- “Greg Barbaccia’s announced departure is a reminder of just how important the Federal CIO role is. The Federal CIO must set a governmentwide technology vision, coordinate across the diverse priorities of agency CIOs, and, just as importantly, advocate for and support those CIOs as they work to modernize systems, strengthen cybersecurity, adopt emerging technologies, and deliver better digital services to the American people,” — Ross Nodurft, Executive Director, Alliance for Digital Innovation
What’s Next
OMB is expected to designate an acting federal CIO in the coming weeks, while the FY 2027 IT budget request proceeds through congressional review. The Tech Force program will continue under OPM leadership, and the expanded AI inventory positions agencies to integrate artificial-intelligence solutions in upcoming initiatives.
