Along with the new authorities included in the Federal IT Acquisition Reform Act (FITARA) is a mandate for department CIOs to work more closely with their respective CFOs, both on the financing of IT projects and using technology to reduce agency costs.

As top technology and financial officials begin working together, Federal CIO Tony Scott asked CFOs to think of the big picture when it comes to IT, rather than focus on specific dollar numbers.

More: FITARA guidance outlines CIO authorities, delegating responsibility

"One thing that I would urge you to do — sort of the big lesson I have learned, having worked with and alongside and for a number of CFOs — probably the worst thing you can do to a CIO is give them a dollar target and say, 'cut the budget,'" Scott said during an event for federal CIOs and CFOs hosted by the Association of Government Accountants on May 1.

CIOs can make those cuts, Scott said, but they generally lead to short-term savings at the expense of long-term gains.

In order to reach the desired outcome, Scott suggested framing the question differently.

More: Three top priorities for new Federal CIO

"What are the things we can do to deliver long-term, sustainable, permanent savings and let's come back and have a conversation about that. Then ask the next question: what is that long-term sustainable benefit?" he said. "If you do that you'll end up in a much better place and I think you'll find, as I've experienced, you'll actually take out more costs than if you just set a dollar target."

At the same time, things like sequestration and significant budget cuts can force an agency's hand. Scott suggested CIOs be prepared for these eventualities and use them as an opportunity to move on big projects that might have met resistance in the past.

More: Federal CIO says agencies need to finish IT projects

"I always like to have in my back pocket a, 'what would I do if the budget was 20 percent less?'" he said. "And I encourage the CIOs I work with to think about that and what are those long-term, sustainable kinds of things I mentioned before and then never waste a good crisis to go after those things."

About Aaron Boyd

Aaron Boyd is an awarding-winning journalist currently serving as editor of Federal Times — a Washington, D.C. institution covering federal workforce and contracting for more than 50 years — and Fifth Domain — a news and information hub focused on cybersecurity and cyberwar from a civilian, military and international perspective.

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