Alt18F

'I don't care about Direct File': IRS chief says agency plans to end free filing program Internal Revenue Service Commissioner Bill Long said the agency will end its Direct File program.

"Nearly 300,000 filers used Direct File for the 2025 tax season, and 94% of users who completed an IRS survey rated their experience as 'excellent' or 'above average.'"

Text from a document that reads: The Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (“PSI” or the “Subcommittee”) sought to calculate the waste of taxpayer dollars generated by DOGE in its first six months of existence through a comprehensive review of publicly available resources and independent analysis. PSI estimated that, in just six months, DOGE itself has generated at least $21.7 billion in waste across the federal government, despite its ostensible goal of eliminating government waste.

Text from a document that reads: In February, DOGE fired the GSA’s interagency technology support team (“18F”) responsible for hundreds of *actual* government modernization and efficiency projects ...

Text from a document that reads: Despite its seemingly formalized purpose and structure, and Mr. Musk’s promise of “maximum transparency,” the legacy of DOGE will inevitably be its ambiguous authority, transitory mission, unverifiable claims, and devastating impacts on federal workers and the public they serve.

Our weekend reading: "Analyzing the Waste Generated by DOGE," a new report from the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. 👀 www.hsgac.senate.gov/wp-content/u...

How Healthcare.gov’s botched rollout led to a digital services revolution in government The botched rollout of a federal website 12 years ago became a turning point for digital services across government.

"Young stressed that those working on digital tools within the federal government 'have a responsibility to the security and privacy of the public.'" @not-young.bsky.social

From compliance to delivery: Why agencies need product managers - Niskanen Center To improve public service delivery, the federal government should adopt a Product Operating Model and build product management capacity across agencies.

Too often, govt measures success by compliance, not outcomes. Public services aren’t delivered until they work for people. In my new @niskanencenter.bsky.social piece, I argue we need more product managers in govt to move from outputs to impact.
www.niskanencenter.org/from-complia...

Revisiting the Origins of Civic Tech In an era of DOGE, what can we learn from a different approach to tech and government

"Technology has become the spinal cord of government. ... Just look at DOGE's approach. When they began cutting across the government, where did they go first? Not to policy offices, not to secretary suites, not to planning departments. They went directly to the levers of IT systems and operations."

State Department cyber, tech cuts deeper than previously known Personnel involved in cyber, quantum, AI and tech-focused roles laid off in mass changes to the agency.

EXCLUSIVE: The cuts of cybersecurity and technology staff at the State Department are more extensive than previously reported, and include a significant number of people with specialized skills that could leave major gaps in expertise at the department.

Data Security — Unbreaking How the administration is breaking the government, and what that means for all of us.

Since day one, the Trump administration has recklessly exploited Americans’ sensitive data in efforts to deport immigrants, restrict access to critical benefits and services, and gut the federal workforce. Here’s what we’ve learned so far: unbreaking.org/issues/data-...

The “patriot” in the cubicle next door Ideological tests for hiring and retention of civil servants

🚨 The deadline for comment on OPM’s proposed “suitability and fitness” rule is now July 18th. The rule would give the administration broader power over civil servants. Learn more about why this is an issue here:
www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/the-patrio...

The high stakes of government communication What the public loses when they can't get clear, accurate, and accessible information from their government.

From public health warnings to product recalls and disaster assistance, the way government gets information to the public can be a matter of life and death. 18F helped our agency partners communicate clearly and accurately.

This is just one example of how government technologists were working to improve digital services for the American people. Folks at USDS, 18F, and across our partner agencies were in the midst of many other projects like this when DOGE interrupted our work.

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The high stakes of government communication What the public loses when they can't get clear, accurate, and accessible information from their government.

DOGE might believe otherwise, but improving government websites takes more than software engineering. 18F also worked with our partner agencies on content and communication strategies, making it easier for the public to find and understand important information.

Direct File is Open Source! And I want to share some of my favorite parts of the codebase

"We wanted to take an arduous and costly interaction ... and transform it into a simple and positive experience. I’m writing this ... so that a technical audience can follow along and fact-check me along the way. You don’t have to take my word—now, I can show you what we did."

Direct File is 'beloved by its users,' internal IRS report says The IRS is reportedly ending the Direct File, but a report obtained via the Freedom of Information Act says that 94% of users rated their experience as “excellent” or “above average.”

"Direct File showed what real government efficiency is—identifying a need and delivering for people in a way that actually makes their lives better.” — @merici.bsky.social

The former leader of 18F speaks out on the digital services team’s ‘deletion’ Lindsay Young, executive director of 18F when it was shuttered, joins the podcast to talk about the appeal she and other 18F members filed with the Merit Systems Protection Board.

"As civil servants we took an oath that we took very seriously, and we continue to try and serve the public the best we can. We see [our MSPB appeal] as a continuation of that effort.” — @not-young.bsky.social

"This violates guidelines laid out by the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA)."

"Through messages on Slack, email, and direct communications with Shedd, 18F opposed Shedd and DOGE gaining elevated access without having a role that required it, such as Authorizing Official or System Owner, and without providing a business need for such access."

"There are protective protocols in place that require vetting and following procedures to become an Authorizing Official or System Owner. Shedd had not completed these steps nor had the DOGE personnel who also wanted access."

"On February 10, 2025, Thomas Shedd sought full access to TTS systems, including those administered by 18F. Administrative or root access to systems is not normally part of a director’s responsibilities."

Screenshot of a section of 18F employees' appeal to the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board. Highlighted text reads, "There are protective protocols in place that require vetting and following procedures to become an Authorizing Official or System Owner. Shedd had not completed these steps nor had the DOGE personnel who also wanted access." Full text of the excerpt is transcribed in the threaded post below.

When it comes to handling sensitive systems and data, we believe government officials should follow best practice and the law—and we said so. (Text in🧵)

"I’ve always looked for opportunities where the things that I care about overlap with my professional opportunities—to try to bring some skills to bear on problems ... worth solving. And the folks at 18F I think were doing that, and had been doing that for a long time." — @ethanmarcotte.com 🫡

"Through their Slack channel and in individual communications, 18F staff raised concerns with Shedd about meetings with unknown people who might not be government employees about federal government projects. They also raised concerns about not including ASL interpreters for staff who needed them."

"Most DOGE interviewers would not provide the 18F staff with their full names and some invitations to the DOGE meetings came from non-government email addresses with no information identifying the person sending the invitation."

"On January 29, 2025, Shedd mandated that some 18F staff engage in one-on-one meetings with people purportedly employed by DOGE."

Screenshot of a section of 18F employees' appeal to the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board. One section of highlighted text reads, "[DOGE interviewers] would not provide the 18F staff with their full names." A second section of highlighted text reads, "18F staff raised concerns with Shedd about meetings with unknown people who might not be government employees about federal government projects." Full text of the excerpt is transcribed in the threaded post below.

More from our appeal: the arrival of DOGE at 18F. (Text in🧵)

"(a) perceived political affiliations or beliefs, (b) First Amendment protected speech and actions supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and (c) actions to resist and blow the whistle on management’s improper handling and transition of control concerning sensitive data and systems."

"GSA lacks a valid reason pursuant to 5 C.F.R. § 351.201(a)(2) for the RIF targeting 18F. The group was targeted to retaliate against them because of their—"

"[At the direction of Elon Musk, DOGE, OMB, and OPM, GSA issued RIF notices to Appellants and their colleagues in 18F] ... giving them notice that GSA would separate them from employment in sixty days."

Screenshot of a section of 18F employees' appeal to the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board. Highlighted text reads, "GSA lacks a valid reason pursuant to 5 C.F.R. § 351.201(a)(2) for the RIF targeting 18F." Full text of the excerpt is transcribed in the threaded post below.

For folks curious about the details of our appeal to the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board, we’ll be sharing a few highlights over the next few days. To start off, here’s a summary. (Text in🧵)

Last day to weigh in on Trump's plan to politicize the civil service Trump has already shown us how he would use Schedule F powers

Midnight, June 7 is the deadline to comment on the revised Schedule F, Trump's plan to politicize the civil servants by converting them into at-will appointees that can be fired for the mildest pushback against illegal actions.
It's easy - here is how:
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/last-day-t...