White House Named Carter Farmer Federal CIO
The EPA's current CIO will transition to the federal role as the agency seeks his replacement.
Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in People
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The White House selected Carter Farmer as the new federal chief information officer. Farmer, who joined the EPA in May 2025, will now vacate his current role at the agency.
Why it matters
The change in federal leadership follows the August 2026 departure of Greg Barbaccia, who has returned to Palantir. The transition comes as the EPA moves to fill its top technology post, having listed the vacancy on the federal jobs portal this week.
Carter Farmer joins the Technology Modernization Fund Board, where he has been a voting member since August 2026. The EPA officially listed its open CIO position on USAJobs.gov on September 28, 2026.
The players
Carter Farmer
The incoming federal CIO and current EPA technology lead who joined the Technology Modernization Fund Board in 2026.
Greg Barbaccia
The former federal CIO who stepped down in August 2026 to return to the data analytics firm Palantir.
Environmental Protection Agency
The federal agency tasked with environmental regulation that is currently seeking a new CIO.
Technology Modernization Fund Board
The federal body that provides funding and technical expertise for government IT infrastructure projects.
The details
Carter Farmer will transition to the federal CIO position after serving at the Environmental Protection Agency since May 2025. Concurrent with this appointment, Farmer retains his permanent position on the Technology Modernization Fund Board. Meanwhile, the EPA has initiated the recruitment process to replace its outgoing leadership by posting the vacancy on the official federal hiring portal.
Timeline
May 2025: Carter Farmer began his tenure at the EPA.
August 2026: Greg Barbaccia left the federal CIO office.
August 2026: Farmer joined the Technology Modernization Fund Board.
September 28, 2026: EPA posted the open CIO position on USAJobs.gov.
Market Landscape
The transition follows the August 2026 departure of federal CIO Greg Barbaccia. This appointment marks a shift in leadership for federal IT oversight as the administration fills the vacancy left by Barbaccia's move back to the private sector.
Operators working with federal technology procurement should monitor how the transition affects EPA project timelines and oversight requirements. Keep track of the pending EPA CIO search, as the new appointment will likely influence agency IT budget priorities in the coming fiscal year.
The takeaway
The appointment of a new federal CIO signals upcoming continuity for the Technology Modernization Fund Board where Farmer serves. Operators should note the open EPA leadership role and follow USAJobs.gov for updates on the agency's future technology strategy.
Further reading
For more on shifting leadership roles, visit our People section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by FedScoop.
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