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How 18F transformed government technology − and why its elimination matters
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Relevant context for AI governance discussions about state capacity and government technological competence; the dismantling of digital service agencies may affect governments' ability to oversee and regulate AI systems effectively.
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Importance: 25/100news articlecommentary
Summary
This article examines the impact of 18F, a federal digital services agency that modernized government technology through agile development and user-centered design, and analyzes the consequences of its dissolution under the DOGE initiative. It argues that eliminating 18F undermines the government's capacity to deliver effective digital services and maintain technological competence in the public sector.
Key Points
- •18F was a federal agency that helped modernize government IT systems using modern software development practices like agile methodologies and user-centered design.
- •The agency served as an in-house tech consultancy, reducing reliance on expensive private contractors and improving digital service delivery for citizens.
- •18F's elimination as part of DOGE cost-cutting measures removes institutional knowledge and capacity for government tech modernization.
- •The loss of 18F may increase government dependence on large private contractors who lack accountability for poor-performing legacy systems.
- •Government technological competence has implications for democratic governance, public trust, and the state's ability to implement policies effectively.
Cited by 1 page
| Page | Type | Quality |
|---|---|---|
| US Government Technology Workforce | Analysis | -- |
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How 18F transformed government technology − and why its elimination matters
18F was a group of technology hotshots within the GSA.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
Kayla Schwoerer , University at Albany, State University of New York
Author
Kayla Schwoerer
Assistant Professor of Public Administration & Policy, University at Albany, State University of New York
Disclosure statement
Kayla Schwoerer does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
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University at Albany, State University of New York provides funding as a member of The Conversation US.
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DOI
https://doi.org/10.64628/AAI.m3gmfdgua
https://theconversation.com/how-18f-transformed-government-technology-and-why-its-elimination-matters-251333
https://theconversation.com/how-18f-transformed-government-technology-and-why-its-elimination-matters-251333
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Healthcare.gov, the government health insurance marketplace website, launched in October 2013 only to buckle under the weight of just 2,000 simultaneous users. As millions of Americans stared at error messages and frozen screens, a political crisis unfolded, but so did a new era of government technology.
The result was 18F, an in-house digital services consulting agency that brought Silicon Valley expertise to government, challenging decades of outdated procurement practices and introducing a radical new approach to building digital public services.
Founded on March 19, 2014, by Presidential Innovation Fellows , 18F was housed within the Technology Transformation Services department of the General Services Administration, or GSA. The name 18F was derived from the address of GSA headquarters: 1800 F Street. On March 1, 2025, just a few weeks shy of 18F’s 11th anniversary, the Trump administration eliminated the agency and laid off its staff.
As a researcher who studies public administration and technology , I have observed the transformational role 18F played in government digital services. The unit’s elimination raises the question of what the future of those services will look like.
Impact of 18F
18F served a unique role as an in-house digital consultancy for the U.S. government, drawing on innovative strategies to improve public service through technolo
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