Andrew Dunkman
@dunkman.me
Software developer, public servant, DC resident, and anti-automobiler doing my best to avoid meme culture. Former Chief of Delivery at 18F. https://dunkman.me
Couldn’t be more proud of this team! I had the privilege of working with them as they took the reigns of the project — the people at the Tax Court really embraced their ownership and I have no doubts it will continue to repay the court for decades to come. 🥰
Shout-out to the U.S. Tax Court's case management system, which has maintained 99.98% uptime in the five years since it launched, experiencing three outages ever, which we know because they maintain a public uptime tracker. status.ustaxcourt.gov
US Tax Court Status
Welcome to US Tax Court's home for real-time and historical data on system performance.
status.ustaxcourt.gov
October 18, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Couldn’t be more proud of this team! I had the privilege of working with them as they took the reigns of the project — the people at the Tax Court really embraced their ownership and I have no doubts it will continue to repay the court for decades to come. 🥰
Reposted by Andrew Dunkman
There is no crime problem…
“Crime” is a response to a problem
The problem is poverty…
The problem is inequity
“Crime” is a response to a problem
The problem is poverty…
The problem is inequity
August 12, 2025 at 12:33 PM
There is no crime problem…
“Crime” is a response to a problem
The problem is poverty…
The problem is inequity
“Crime” is a response to a problem
The problem is poverty…
The problem is inequity
Reposted by Andrew Dunkman
What an insane few months it’s been dogetrack.info/goals/timeli...
DOGE Timeline
A website tracking the various activities of the DOGE wrecking crew across government. Sunlight is the best disinfectant!
dogetrack.info
May 30, 2025 at 7:18 PM
What an insane few months it’s been dogetrack.info/goals/timeli...
Reposted by Andrew Dunkman
IRS’s Direct File wasn't open source while it was being developed. But somebody just made it public!
GitHub - IRS-Public/direct-file: Direct File
Direct File. Contribute to IRS-Public/direct-file development by creating an account on GitHub.
github.com
May 30, 2025 at 12:29 AM
IRS’s Direct File wasn't open source while it was being developed. But somebody just made it public!
Reposted by Andrew Dunkman
We have some news to share with you. 🥄
Today we took legal action to challenge our termination, filing an appeal with the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board. We did this because we believe the elimination of 18F violated safeguards that exist to protect a nonpartisan civil service.
Today we took legal action to challenge our termination, filing an appeal with the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board. We did this because we believe the elimination of 18F violated safeguards that exist to protect a nonpartisan civil service.
18F files legal challenge
A statement about 18F’s appeal filed with the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board.
18f.org
May 28, 2025 at 7:25 PM
We have some news to share with you. 🥄
Today we took legal action to challenge our termination, filing an appeal with the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board. We did this because we believe the elimination of 18F violated safeguards that exist to protect a nonpartisan civil service.
Today we took legal action to challenge our termination, filing an appeal with the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board. We did this because we believe the elimination of 18F violated safeguards that exist to protect a nonpartisan civil service.
Reposted by Andrew Dunkman
New, from me:
The DOGE project was sold as tech disruptors who would revolutionize government. To try to understand why DOGE has failed, I point to lessons that other technologists who worked in government learned, but DOGE ignored. 🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/what-doge-...
The DOGE project was sold as tech disruptors who would revolutionize government. To try to understand why DOGE has failed, I point to lessons that other technologists who worked in government learned, but DOGE ignored. 🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/what-doge-...
What DOGE gets wrong about tech and government
Lessons learned by civic tech, forgotten by DOGE
donmoynihan.substack.com
May 17, 2025 at 2:14 PM
New, from me:
The DOGE project was sold as tech disruptors who would revolutionize government. To try to understand why DOGE has failed, I point to lessons that other technologists who worked in government learned, but DOGE ignored. 🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/what-doge-...
The DOGE project was sold as tech disruptors who would revolutionize government. To try to understand why DOGE has failed, I point to lessons that other technologists who worked in government learned, but DOGE ignored. 🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/what-doge-...
Reposted by Andrew Dunkman
BREAKING: The country of Norway just entered a bill to give transgender Americans asylum in the country of Norway…
LGBTQ+ STRONG! 🌈✨
LGBTQ+ STRONG! 🌈✨
April 10, 2025 at 11:45 PM
BREAKING: The country of Norway just entered a bill to give transgender Americans asylum in the country of Norway…
LGBTQ+ STRONG! 🌈✨
LGBTQ+ STRONG! 🌈✨
Reposted by Andrew Dunkman
18F was a US government group helping government departments improve their use of technology which got recently wood-chipped. Here's a good overview of their work plus lessons learned: which apply to any large organization.
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/lear...
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/lear...
Learning From the Legacy of 18F
Although the government has terminated 18F—the team that modernized government tech—its legacy offers lessons for future digital services.
www.lawfaremedia.org
April 7, 2025 at 3:34 PM
18F was a US government group helping government departments improve their use of technology which got recently wood-chipped. Here's a good overview of their work plus lessons learned: which apply to any large organization.
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/lear...
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/lear...
Reposted by Andrew Dunkman
Excellent take on the wrecking ball that is DOGE. Merici Vinton is a legend to the US Digital Service.
www.cnn.com/2025/04/08/p...
www.cnn.com/2025/04/08/p...
Former DOGE insider describes ‘wrecking ball’ approach | CNN Politics
A former DOGE employee describes the ‘highly secretive’ group’s bulldozer-like approach to shrinking the government.
www.cnn.com
April 9, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Excellent take on the wrecking ball that is DOGE. Merici Vinton is a legend to the US Digital Service.
www.cnn.com/2025/04/08/p...
www.cnn.com/2025/04/08/p...
Reposted by Andrew Dunkman
18F advocated for "working in the open.” That doesn’t mean discussing sensitive information on unsecured platforms—it means respecting FOIA, opting for open source software, and sharing knowledge as widely as possible. 18f.org/working-in-t...
Working in the open
For over 11 years, 18F has been proudly serving the American people to make government technology work better. We are non-partisan civil servants. 18F has worked on hundreds of projects, all designed ...
18f.org
March 26, 2025 at 9:37 PM
18F advocated for "working in the open.” That doesn’t mean discussing sensitive information on unsecured platforms—it means respecting FOIA, opting for open source software, and sharing knowledge as widely as possible. 18f.org/working-in-t...
Reposted by Andrew Dunkman
🚀 NOTICE: Federal US website newly registered.
https://trumpcard.gov
Action taken by the Executive Office of the President (DOGE) at or around 2025-03-25 06:10:57.
https://trumpcard.gov
Action taken by the Executive Office of the President (DOGE) at or around 2025-03-25 06:10:57.
trumpcard.gov
Federal US website registered. Content may not be visible yet.
trumpcard.gov
March 25, 2025 at 12:03 PM
🚀 NOTICE: Federal US website newly registered.
https://trumpcard.gov
Action taken by the Executive Office of the President (DOGE) at or around 2025-03-25 06:10:57.
https://trumpcard.gov
Action taken by the Executive Office of the President (DOGE) at or around 2025-03-25 06:10:57.
Reposted by Andrew Dunkman
I helped build a government AI system. DOGE fired me, rolled the AI out to the whole agency, and implied the AI can do my job and the jobs of the others they've fired.
It can't. But, what DOGE accidentally revealed about themselves in the process is fascinating. 🧵
It can't. But, what DOGE accidentally revealed about themselves in the process is fascinating. 🧵
March 21, 2025 at 10:41 PM
I helped build a government AI system. DOGE fired me, rolled the AI out to the whole agency, and implied the AI can do my job and the jobs of the others they've fired.
It can't. But, what DOGE accidentally revealed about themselves in the process is fascinating. 🧵
It can't. But, what DOGE accidentally revealed about themselves in the process is fascinating. 🧵
Reposted by Andrew Dunkman
“Officials liked what the man in the van set out to do - give all the children delicious candy - but have been frustrated by his reckless abduction approach”
March 8, 2025 at 1:39 PM
“Officials liked what the man in the van set out to do - give all the children delicious candy - but have been frustrated by his reckless abduction approach”
Reposted by Andrew Dunkman
Here's what we lose when teams like USDS and 18F are suddenly deleted.
New from me:
www.wired.com/story/doge-m...
New from me:
www.wired.com/story/doge-m...
DOGE Is Putting Major Government Efficiency Projects at Risk
In its apparent quest to cut government spending and improve efficiency, DOGE has fired entire tech teams devoted to those very things.
www.wired.com
March 7, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Here's what we lose when teams like USDS and 18F are suddenly deleted.
New from me:
www.wired.com/story/doge-m...
New from me:
www.wired.com/story/doge-m...
Reposted by Andrew Dunkman
18F story behind my favorite government website:
www.ustaxcourt.gov/dawson.html
www.ustaxcourt.gov/dawson.html
DAWSON | United States Tax Court
Docket Access
www.ustaxcourt.gov
March 7, 2025 at 3:35 AM
18F story behind my favorite government website:
www.ustaxcourt.gov/dawson.html
www.ustaxcourt.gov/dawson.html
Reposted by Andrew Dunkman
You can now read about projects that were interrupted when 18F was disbanded.
One of them was with the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP), which ensures military service members and Americans overseas are able to vote, and that their votes are counted.
18f.org/projects/#fe...
One of them was with the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP), which ensures military service members and Americans overseas are able to vote, and that their votes are counted.
18f.org/projects/#fe...
Projects interrupted
For over 11 years, 18F has been proudly serving the American people to make government technology work better. We are non-partisan civil servants. 18F has worked on hundreds of projects, all designed ...
18f.org
March 7, 2025 at 1:40 PM
You can now read about projects that were interrupted when 18F was disbanded.
One of them was with the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP), which ensures military service members and Americans overseas are able to vote, and that their votes are counted.
18f.org/projects/#fe...
One of them was with the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP), which ensures military service members and Americans overseas are able to vote, and that their votes are counted.
18f.org/projects/#fe...
Reposted by Andrew Dunkman
literally nothing can prepare you for this EPA press release www.epa.gov/newsreleases...
EPA Press Office Fact Checks the Washington Post’s Coverage of Waste & Abuse of Taxpayer Dollars | US EPA
EPA News Release: EPA Press Office Fact Checks the Washington Post’s Coverage of Waste & Abuse of Taxpayer Dollars
www.epa.gov
March 7, 2025 at 1:44 AM
literally nothing can prepare you for this EPA press release www.epa.gov/newsreleases...
Reposted by Andrew Dunkman
Really metered my posting about work, but here's a far more recent pic of the last @team18f.bsky.social IRL from September 2023 in DC. This never made the blog, but was a great time.
I was getting bugged only seeing pre-2016 photos of the team & wanted to amplify more of the current faces.
I was getting bugged only seeing pre-2016 photos of the team & wanted to amplify more of the current faces.
March 4, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Really metered my posting about work, but here's a far more recent pic of the last @team18f.bsky.social IRL from September 2023 in DC. This never made the blog, but was a great time.
I was getting bugged only seeing pre-2016 photos of the team & wanted to amplify more of the current faces.
I was getting bugged only seeing pre-2016 photos of the team & wanted to amplify more of the current faces.
Reposted by Andrew Dunkman
Our 18F Guides are back up! Tell your friends. 18f.org/guides/
18F Guides
A central resource for all 18F guides and methods
18f.org
March 3, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Our 18F Guides are back up! Tell your friends. 18f.org/guides/
Reposted by Andrew Dunkman
You might know us from the guides we have put together, like the de-risking guide and the UX guide. Governments all around the world have used them to make services more accessible and add more value to the public — all while saving millions of dollars. You can still find them here: 18f.org/guides/
18F Guides
A central resource for all 18F guides and methods
18f.org
March 3, 2025 at 6:19 PM
You might know us from the guides we have put together, like the de-risking guide and the UX guide. Governments all around the world have used them to make services more accessible and add more value to the public — all while saving millions of dollars. You can still find them here: 18f.org/guides/
Reposted by Andrew Dunkman
DOGE and DOGE-controlled OPM have been consistently saying they are not responsible for cuts or firings - these are agency decisions, and they are just advising. But as soon as agency officials push back, they are pushed out of the way.
NEW: Nick Enrich, acting asst admin for USAID Global Health, was just placed on administrative admin leave by Trump admin. It comes after he shared a memo with USAID staff, including those on leave/fired saying it’s been impossible to implement Rubio’s waivers for lifesaving aid
March 2, 2025 at 11:19 PM
DOGE and DOGE-controlled OPM have been consistently saying they are not responsible for cuts or firings - these are agency decisions, and they are just advising. But as soon as agency officials push back, they are pushed out of the way.
Reposted by Andrew Dunkman
You should know that a big part of 18F's work was to make sure multi-million to multi-*hundreds*-of-millions dollar contracts at fed *and* state level didn't go to shitty enterprise IT consultancies that *repeatedly* delivered tech that didn't work, was late, or didn't even do what it needed to
March 2, 2025 at 6:03 PM
You should know that a big part of 18F's work was to make sure multi-million to multi-*hundreds*-of-millions dollar contracts at fed *and* state level didn't go to shitty enterprise IT consultancies that *repeatedly* delivered tech that didn't work, was late, or didn't even do what it needed to
Reposted by Andrew Dunkman
18F alum here. While I appreciate the well-deserved attention the 18F team is getting, let's address a fundamental misunderstanding of why 18F was so effective in working with other govt agencies to improve their digital services and why starting a consulting company is not a substitute. 1/
If you worked for 18F and got fired, Group together to start a consulting company.
It’s just a matter of time before DOGE needs you to fix the mess they inevitably create.
They will have to hire your company as a contractor to fix it. But on your terms.
I’m happy to invest and/or help
It’s just a matter of time before DOGE needs you to fix the mess they inevitably create.
They will have to hire your company as a contractor to fix it. But on your terms.
I’m happy to invest and/or help
March 2, 2025 at 4:30 PM
18F alum here. While I appreciate the well-deserved attention the 18F team is getting, let's address a fundamental misunderstanding of why 18F was so effective in working with other govt agencies to improve their digital services and why starting a consulting company is not a substitute. 1/
Reposted by Andrew Dunkman
18F was doing exactly the type of work that DOGE claims to want – yet we were eliminated shortly after midnight. Read our letter to the American people:
18f.org
18f.org
We're not done yet | 18F
18f.org
March 1, 2025 at 11:38 PM
18F was doing exactly the type of work that DOGE claims to want – yet we were eliminated shortly after midnight. Read our letter to the American people:
18f.org
18f.org