OIT Announces Strategic Realignment to Better Serve Coloradans and Make State Government More Efficient

DENVER, May 27, 2026 - The Colorado Governor's Office of Information Technology (OIT) today is announcing a large-scale realignment, including a workforce reduction, a new operating model, and a leadership transition. Together, these changes are designed to fundamentally improve how the state designs, builds and maintains the technology Coloradans depend on to access government services. The new human-centered product delivery model ensures OIT better supports agency missions and their end users, resulting in easy-to-use digital tools that work for Coloradans.

Making OIT More Efficient and Leaner

OIT is responsible for the technology Coloradans depend on to access government services - and for several years has not delivered well enough on that responsibility. To address this directly and complete a restructuring that began in February 2026, OIT is reducing its workforce by 173 employees. This decision targets management layers and internal coordination functions that accumulated over time to support a complex bureaucratic structure - not the technical and delivery work on which state agencies and Coloradans rely. The result is an organization with fewer people managing processes and more people doing the important work of improving online services that support Colorado families, such as the Universal Preschool Application and the Colorado PEAK state benefits platform.

"I reached the difficult but necessary conclusion that the way OIT has been operating will not get us to where we need to be," said David Edinger, Chief Information Officer and Executive Director of OIT. "We are fundamentally changing how we operate, and that shift requires a restructure of our workforce. This is a reflection of our new strategic direction, not the talent or commitment of those affected by the layoff."

The New Operating Model

Going forward, OIT will operate through a delivery model that pairs technology teams with state agencies to work directly on the services Coloradans care about most, and deliver them through simple, reliable, user-friendly digital services. The operating model has proven to be successful on a global scale in both public and private sectors - including at Google, Amazon, Microsoft and the U.S. Digital Service - and right here in Colorado.

For example, using the new approach, the state combined hundreds of disparate energy-savings programs into a single Colorado Energy Savings Navigator for Coloradans, coming in $1 million under budget and six months ahead of schedule. The same product-based model has also been successfully applied to the myColorado® app, which is used by nearly two million Coloradans, and will allow the state to build upon its features and functionality for years to come. These are just some of the ways this new approach will improve services for Coloradans.

Full details on OIT's new strategic direction and operating model are available on the OIT website.

Leadership Transition

Governor Jared Polis announced today that Edinger would be stepping down from his role as CIO and Executive Director and Sarah Tuneberg will assume the role beginning June 1, 2026.

"As the modernization strategy took shape, I recognized that executing it successfully requires a leader with deep, firsthand experience in modern delivery - someone who has already worked this way and can bring that experience to OIT's teams and agency partners," Edinger explained. "Sarah is highly regarded for her ability to solve complex operational challenges in government and her leadership has enabled teams to accomplish what was once thought impossible. She will bring that same approach as she leads OIT into the future."

Edinger has served in his post since November 2023, overseeing a $373 million annual budget and $1 billion in federal grant spending. He will remain with OIT through June 11 to support the transition.

"This is a heavy day at OIT as we say goodbye to many of our colleagues. It's bittersweet because, at the same time, OIT is taking an important step forward. This next chapter is about genuine transformation, not just a refresh. We're rebuilding how OIT works from the ground up, around delivery, around outcomes, in service to Coloradans. Our focus will be on ensuring the services Coloradans rely on - SNAP benefits, unemployment insurance, driver license renewals - are not only available online but also simple and easy to access. It is an honor to have the opportunity to lead this work," said Sarah Tuneberg, the current Deputy Executive Director for Digital & Delivery.

Support for Impacted Employees

OIT is committed to supporting all impacted employees during this transition. Affected individuals are receiving comprehensive support, including severance and administrative leave, annual leave payouts, continued health benefits through the end of their termination month, and career transition resources, including resume coaching and help navigating internal opportunities within the state.