Frequently Asked Questions

When is performance information on this website updated?

Progress on Agency Priority Goals and Cross Agency Priority Goals are updated on a quarterly basis. Each update focuses on summarizing work completed and performance achieved during the most recent quarter while analyzing overall trend data for each quarter compared to the planned level of performance, work planned for the remainder of the goal period, and any changes or adjustments that were made to overcome identified barriers or challenges to achieving the goal’s objectives by the end of the goal period.

Additionally, progress on each major Federal agency’s strategic objectives in the agency Strategic Plan is updated annually in the Agency’s Performance Report. In the report, agencies provide a brief description of achievements during the last fiscal year performance period, any challenges encountered, and next steps planned to address identified challenges to drive performance improvements.

Where can I find information on agency performance, such as agency goals and progress against these goals?

Federal agencies provide information to the public on their goals and objectives in numerous ways. They identify longer-term goals and objectives in their Agency Strategic Plans, and identify annual performance goals in their Agency Performance Plans which are updated with the President’s Budget each February. Leaders of the 15 Cabinet departments and 9 other large Federal agencies also set a limited number of near-term, implementation-focused Agency Priority Goals to be achieved within a 24-month time frame. These Agency Priority Goals represent a smaller subset of ambitious, outcome-focused performance goals that hinge on strong execution—rather than additional resources or legislative action.

Federal agencies report progress annually on their performance goals in their Agency Performance Reports or their Performance and Accountability Reports, which are updated either in February or November each year, respectively. Agencies post their annual Agency Performance Reports (or PARs), Strategic Plans, and annual Agency Performance Plans, on their websites. Performance.gov provides a one-stop shop for links to this agency performance information.

In making government performance information more easily understood to the public, Performance.gov also provides, on a single central website, an integrated view of agency strategic goals and objectives, and detailed information on each Agency Priority Goal. The site also has information about the Cross-Agency Priority Goals which are used to implement the President’s Management Agenda, and as well as details government-wide mission and management priorities. Consolidating and integrating government-wide performance planning and reporting in this manner, the Performance.gov website comprises the Federal performance plan.

What are Cross-Agency Priority (CAP) goals?

Established by the GPRA Modernization Act of 2010, Cross-Agency Priority (CAP) Goals are a tool used by leadership to accelerate progress on a limited number of Presidential priority areas impacting multiple agencies or requiring strong, interagency coordination and collaboration efforts if they are to be successful in implementation. These goals focus on a limited number of cross cutting policy areas, ones that are critical for a government to deliver. Long-term in nature, CAP Goals drive cross-government collaboration to tackle government-wide management challenges affecting most agencies. CAP Goals are a subset of Presidential priorities, and are complemented by other cross-agency coordination and goal-setting efforts.

How are the Cross Agency Priority goals selected?

To develop the CAP Goals, OMB works with the President’s Management Council (PMC) and other senior policy officials and agencies to determine a goal area of focus.

Criteria for selection includes: 1) whether a goal has clear cross-agency implementation actions that have been identified, 2) whether setting a CAP Goal would likely accelerate progress, and 3) whether it aligns with Administration priorities.

Studies by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) are considered in selecting CAP Goals. In addition, OMB consults with the President’s Management Council (PMC), congressional committees as well as considers congressional questions and suggestions as it finalizes the CAP Goals—strengthening the partnership between the Congress and the executive branch that is critical to performance improvement over the long run.

What is the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) Modernization Act of 2010 and why is it important?

The GPRA Modernization Act of 2010 was enacted on January 4, 2011. The Act amends the performance management framework created by the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA). The original GPRA in 1993 established strategic planning, performance planning, and reporting as a framework for agencies to communicate progress in achieving their missions. The GPRA Modernization Act built upon those GPRA requirements, including organizational management routines facilitating the more frequent production and use of performance information and data, an emphasis on agencies’ highest-priority goals, codifying leading practices and elements of performance management, and aligning organizational performance planning processes with election cycles.

What Will I Not Find on Performance.gov?

• Spending data. Spending information for the U.S. Government is available at usaspending.gov.
• Budget data. The President’s proposed Budget of the U.S. Government presented each year to Congress is available on the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) website.
• Federal Program Inventory (FPI). The FPI presents a coherent picture of many Federal programs, currently available at https://fpi.omb.gov/.