Healthcare.gov, the federal government medical insurance market web site, launched in October 2013 solely to buckle below the burden of simply 2,000 simultaneous customers. As tens of millions of Individuals stared at error messages and frozen screens, a political disaster unfolded, however so did a brand new period of presidency know-how.
The consequence was 18F, an in-house digital companies consulting company that introduced Silicon Valley experience to authorities, difficult a long time of outdated procurement practices and introducing a radical new strategy to constructing digital public companies.
Based on March 19, 2014, by Presidential Innovation Fellows, 18F was housed inside the Know-how Transformation Companies division of the Normal Companies Administration, or GSA. The title 18F was derived from the handle of GSA headquarters: 1800 F Road. On March 1, 2025, just some weeks shy of 18F’s eleventh anniversary, the Trump administration eradicated the company and laid off its employees.
As a researcher who research public administration and know-how, I’ve noticed the transformational position 18F performed in authorities digital companies. The unit’s elimination raises the query of what the way forward for these companies will appear like.
Affect of 18F
18F served a singular position as an in-house digital consultancy for the U.S. authorities, drawing on modern methods to enhance public service by means of know-how. Inside 18F, groups consisting of designers, software program engineers, strategists and product managers labored along with federal, state and native companies to not solely repair technical issues however to construct, purchase and share know-how that helped to modernize and enhance the general public’s expertise with authorities companies.
Over almost 11 years, 18F constructed a powerful portfolio of profitable digital initiatives that reworked how individuals work together with the U.S. authorities. Even when the common particular person is unfamiliar with 18F, the percentages are fairly excessive that they’ve at the very least encountered one in all its many services or products.
For instance, 18F supported the Inside Income Service in creating IRS Direct File, a free on-line tax submitting instrument that gives taxpayers with a simplified submitting course of. As of right now, IRS Direct File is obtainable in 25 states and is anticipated to serve 30 million eligible taxpayers in the course of the 2025 tax submitting season.
18F has been pivotal in modernizing and securing digital methods to assist create extra streamlined and safe person experiences for the general public. As an example, Login.gov is a safe single sign-on platform that simplifies entry to a number of authorities companies for customers.
Maybe probably the most notable of 18F’s modernization efforts that touches almost each side of presidency right now is the U.S. Net Design System. The great design system was developed in collaboration with the U.S. Digital Service in 2015. It helps help dozens of companies and makes almost 200 web sites extra accessible and conscious of person wants.
How 18F labored
What set 18F aside was its strategy. Quite than spending years on big info know-how contracts that always did not ship, 18F championed agile improvement. Agile and lean methodologies have been widespread in Silicon Valley startups and software program corporations for many years on account of their flexibility and concentrate on speedy iteration.
By making use of agile improvement rules, 18F centered on breaking down giant initiatives into manageable items with incremental enhancements primarily based on frequent person suggestions. This strategy allowed steady adaptation spurred by person suggestions and altering necessities whereas decreasing threat.
One other cornerstone of 18F’s modern strategy was its concentrate on user-centered design. By specializing in the wants of the individuals who truly used authorities companies, 18F was capable of transcend merely satisfying technical necessities to design digital merchandise that had been extra accessible and user-friendly. The thought was to know the top customers and the issues they encountered with the intention to successfully design merchandise and options that addressed their wants. It additionally aimed to supply a constant person expertise and earn the customers’ belief within the companies.
By prioritizing open-source improvement and collaboration, 18F additionally helped to make authorities IT extra reasonably priced. Making challenge code clear meant that companies may reuse the code and scale back the price of duplicate improvement efforts throughout companies and ranges of presidency.
18F additionally had a hand in serving to companies develop their very own know-how capability, whether or not by instructing them the right way to construct software program utilizing open-source improvement and agile methodologies or by instructing companies the right way to rent and oversee know-how distributors themselves. This mannequin was particularly useful for state and native companies following 18F’s enlargement in 2016 to supply companies to state and native authorities companies that obtain federal funding.
Finish of an period
The elimination of 18F marks the top of an period, elevating considerations about each present and future know-how initiatives. As of now, there doesn’t seem like a succession plan, leaving many federal companies with out ongoing help for his or her digital transformation efforts. Critics additionally argue that the lack of 18F means the lack of vital technical experience inside the authorities.
These modifications come at a time when companies are experiencing substantial personnel shifts, rendering digital companies doubtlessly much more vital. As companies brace for extra personnel cuts, the general public might have to rely extra on digital companies to fill the hole amid rising staffing shortages.
For the reason that information was introduced, present and former 18F group members in addition to advocates of the unit have taken to social media platforms, together with X (previously Twitter), Bluesky, and LinkedIn, to share tales of its successes, honor its legacy and share 18F sources.
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Viewpoint: How 18F reworked authorities know-how, and why its elimination issues (2025, March 6)
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