POPVOX Foundation

We got in on the #wrapped action.

Legislative branch sees boost for modernization in government spending package The package offers a glimpse into how Congress is approaching emerging technology in its own offices.

A small but meaningful push: new funding for AI tools, better casework systems, and real data infrastructure. It’s not flashy, but it matters. As Aubrey Wilson puts it: “We’re celebrating, because it definitely shows we’re starting to get in the right direction.”
fedscoop.com/congress-mod...

A Morning of Gratitude for Hill Staff from POPVOX Foundation and CapitolStrong — POPVOX Foundation POPVOX Foundation and CapitolStrong hosted a thank you event for Congressional staff, highlighting the coalition’s support for the people who keep Congress running.

Earlier today, POPVOX Foundation & CapitolStrong hosted a thank you event for Congressional staff with coffee, treats, and therapy dog Teddy.

From early mornings to late nights, through challenges and crises, Hill staff show up and serve.
www.popvox.org/blog/capitol...

Congress in 2040? Insights from the global “AI for Parliaments” summit and why US lawmakers can’t afford to fall behind

A global summit on AI for Parliaments offered a glimpse of how legislatures might operate in 2040 — and why Congress risks slipping behind as peers race ahead.

Check out the latest Future-Proofing Congress from @marcidale.bsky.social:
futureproofingcongress.substack.com/p/congress-i...

Casework Navigator: Sharing community resource lists is now officially House-sanctioned And your regular roundup of agency news

House just cleared the way for offices to share Community Resource Lists — a big win for caseworkers and constituents!

Plus: key agency updates, immigration shifts, and federal workforce news shaping casework right now.
caseworknavigator.substack.com/p/sharing-co...

The Path Forward: Continuing the CAO's Legacy of Leadership — POPVOX Foundation As Catherine Szpindor retires after reshaping the House’s modern infrastructure, Congress enters a high-stakes era where AI, post-Chevron demands, and decades of capacity loss make the next CAO appoin...

With Catherine Szpindor, the Chief Administrative Officer for the House retiring, Congress now faces an AI-driven, post-Chevron moment that makes the next CAO pick a generational choice for its capacity to serve the public.
www.popvox.org/blog/continu...

The Future Won’t Slow Down—But Congress Can Get Ready A whirlwind week of new AI breakthroughs, autonomous tech shifts, and a major White House initiative

A whirlwind week of new AI breakthroughs, autonomous tech shifts, a major White House initiative, and more!

Check out a special Thanksgiving editing of Future-Proofing Congress from @marcidale.bsky.social: futureproofingcongress.substack.com/p/the-future...

“If there had been stronger and more intentional connections between delivery teams and Congressional staff, many programs could have achieved their goals more effectively.” -former 18F employee

Learn more about Departure Dialogues and add your insights: popvox.org/departure

The first round of Departure Dialogues captured reflections from federal employees across multiple agencies, revealing patterns that transcend individual departments.

Among them: the Paperwork Reduction Act is having the opposite effect.

Learn more: popvox.org/departure

Giving Thanks and Celebrating Wins Legislative victories worth celebrating and a thank you event for all that you do

Congress is back and there’s real progress to celebrate! 💪

From modernization funding and casework upgrades to new AI guidance and federal workforce insights, a new Future-Proofing Congress covers concrete wins that strengthen how Congress serves.
futureproofingcongress.substack.com/p/giving-tha...

Departure Dialogues Project — POPVOX Foundation Departure Dialogues captures insights from former federal employees to help Congress strengthen agency performance and close gaps between policy and practice.

Have you recently left federal service? POPVOX Foundation is launching round 2 of Departure Dialogues.

Your experience matters. Share your feedback to help Congress modernize outdated laws and strengthen public trust: www.popvox.org/departure

The finding: Legislative requirements should be updated to reflect modern needs and realities.

The opportunity: Congress can use emerging technologies to gather structured feedback from the federal workforce efficiently and use it to shape smarter legislation.

Frontline expertise is missing from lawmaking.

Federal employees say their insights rarely reach leadership or lawmakers — yet they know where systems break down.

“Stronger connections between delivery teams and staff could help programs succeed.” — Randy Hart, former 18F

One law kept coming up: the Paperwork Reduction Act.

Federal staff say the law meant to cut red tape is creating bureaucracy instead.

“Despite its name, the Paperwork Reduction Act imposes substantial constraints on collecting useful information.” — Gabriel Levine, former NSF

Employees from USDA, State, FDA, and SSA pointed to the same problem: outdated legislative requirements prevent agencies from delivering results.

“Our agents operated under outdated guidance that didn't reflect best practices, creating legal risk.” — Dan Murphy, formerly of State

Departure Dialogues Project — POPVOX Foundation Departure Dialogues captures insights from former federal employees to help Congress strengthen agency performance and close gaps between policy and practice.

Federal employees who left government service have insights about how Congress can write laws that agencies can implement more effectively.

POPVOX Foundation + partners’ Departure Dialogues released its 1st round of findings:
www.popvox.org/departure-di...

The People Will Stand and Deliver If you’re struggling to find faith in American politics and the future of Congress right now, tune in

New research shows town halls can do more than spark chaos — they can reduce polarization and rebuild trust.

For the latest Voice/Mail, Anne Meeker talked with Michael Neblo and Amy Lee of the Ohio State University’s IDEA.
voicemailgov.substack.com/p/the-people...

Casework Navigator: This year is strength training, not a marathon And riding the healthcare casework wave

Offices that treat casework crises as learning opportunities emerge stronger. 💪

The latest Casework Navigator explores how adapting under pressure builds resilience and what caseworkers can learn from today’s wave of constituent challenges.
caseworknavigator.substack.com/p/casework-n...

The Spookiest Season of All Tips and tricks to stay ahead during the government shutdown

Spooky season on the Hill isn’t about ghosts. It’s about the end of the fiscal year! 👻

In the latest Future-Proofing Congress:
- staying effective during the shutdown
- smart AI use
- staff morale boosts
- the latest Hill tech updates, and more!
futureproofingcongress.substack.com/p/the-spooki...

Casework Navigator: Shutdown but not out Can we send you a casework sticker, as the least we can do to help?

The latest Casework Navigator covers key shutdown impacts on agency services, resources for federal employees and contractors, and new developments in casework data and oversight.
caseworknavigator.substack.com/p/shutdown-b...

A developing database of constituent complaints to Congress could help agencies find systemic issues in their public services While Capitol Hill staffers help constituents when they have trouble getting assistance from an agency, there’s currently no way to track that information across congressional offices.

"Casework is the best thing Congress does. It's this really vital ground floor look at how policy works.” - Anne Meeker, POPVOX Foundation Managing Director
www.govexec.com/oversight/20...

Constituent complaints about private companies can be tricky—but help exists!

Watch our latest webinar to learn how govt agencies like CFPB handle consumer issues and what Congressional offices should know about key resources for protecting constituents: www.popvox.org/events/consu...

With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility Staying safe and supported as a Congressional staffer

This month’s Future-Proofing Congress dives into staff safety, burnout, AI innovation, and small wins that keep the Hill moving forward.

Take a breath and read: futureproofingcongress.substack.com/p/with-great...

Shutdown Planning, Security Information, and H-1B Fun And don’t miss our rescheduled Consumer Protection webinar!

Shutdown planning, safety tips for staff, H-1B updates, and more in this week’s Casework Navigator newsletter.

Plus, our rescheduled Consumer Protection webinar with Erie Meyer this Thursday!
caseworknavigator.substack.com/p/shutdown-p...

Innovation in Action: Highlights from the 2025 Congressional Hackathon — POPVOX Foundation The Congressional Hackathon 7.0 took place in the Capitol Visitor Center in the US Capitol on September 17, 2025.

Big ideas, bold announcements, and the next generation of civic technologists: Highlights from the 2025 Congressional Hackathon show how collaboration is driving real progress in modernizing Congress.
www.popvox.org/blog/hackath...

Learn more at popvox.org/departure

Platform Gives Departing Feds a Voice on Bottlenecks Between Congress, Agencies — FEDmanager There is often a disconnect between the laws Congress writes and passes, and how they are implemented in federal agencies. With thousands of federal employees leaving service this year, several groups...

"The goal [of Departure Dialogues]: hear from former federal employees about the frustrations they’ve seen through their years of service, and [use] that knowledge to better implement policies and make government work better."
www.fedmanager.com/news/platfor...

What we did over our summer vacation And the most exciting update EVER from House Digital Services on casework data

In the latest Casework Navigator:
- AI “summer camp” for Congress
- Departure Dialogues for departing feds
- casework insights
- HDS’s new casework taxonomy for better constituent services, and more!
caseworknavigator.substack.com/p/what-we-di...