@lynlake.bsky.social
Reposted
"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
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.
federalnewsnetwork.com
July 31, 2025 at 8:15 PM
"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
Reposted
Every day, the horrors in Gaza reach new, unimaginable depths.
And as starvation spreads, Netanyahu and Trump remain complicit in a scheme to use US taxpayer dollars to replace humanitarian aid orgs with mercenaries — leading to more death and devastation.
This cannot continue.
And as starvation spreads, Netanyahu and Trump remain complicit in a scheme to use US taxpayer dollars to replace humanitarian aid orgs with mercenaries — leading to more death and devastation.
This cannot continue.
Mass starvation stalks Gaza as deaths from hunger rise
Aid agencies warned for months that Israel’s harsh limits on food aid would bring acute malnutrition and widespread suffering to Gaza’s 2.1 million people.
www.washingtonpost.com
July 26, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Every day, the horrors in Gaza reach new, unimaginable depths.
And as starvation spreads, Netanyahu and Trump remain complicit in a scheme to use US taxpayer dollars to replace humanitarian aid orgs with mercenaries — leading to more death and devastation.
This cannot continue.
And as starvation spreads, Netanyahu and Trump remain complicit in a scheme to use US taxpayer dollars to replace humanitarian aid orgs with mercenaries — leading to more death and devastation.
This cannot continue.
Reposted
"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."
Revisiting the Origins of Civic Tech
In an era of DOGE, what can we learn from a different approach to tech and government
donmoynihan.substack.com
July 21, 2025 at 8:17 PM
"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."
Reposted
🫡
2 resources that have supported me in this endeavour, and continue to do so:
'Phases of an Agile Project' in the 🇬🇧 Cabinet Office's Service Manual: www.gov.uk/service-manu...
@alt18f.bsky.social's repo for the 🇺🇸 weather.gov service: github.com/mchaamsler/w...
🙏 for making things openly! 💚
'Phases of an Agile Project' in the 🇬🇧 Cabinet Office's Service Manual: www.gov.uk/service-manu...
@alt18f.bsky.social's repo for the 🇺🇸 weather.gov service: github.com/mchaamsler/w...
🙏 for making things openly! 💚
Agile delivery - Service Manual - GOV.UK
How to work in an agile way: principles, tools and governance.
www.gov.uk
June 30, 2025 at 7:30 PM
🫡
Reposted
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.
The high stakes of government communication
What the public loses when they can't get clear, accurate, and accessible information from their government.
18f.org
June 26, 2025 at 5:41 PM
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.
Reposted
"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 Open Source!
And I want to share some of my favorite parts of the codebase
alexthemark.substack.com
June 23, 2025 at 6:52 PM
"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."
Reposted
Republicans are trying to sell off your public lands in their budget bill to pay for their tax cuts for billionaires and corporations.
June 20, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Republicans are trying to sell off your public lands in their budget bill to pay for their tax cuts for billionaires and corporations.
Reposted
"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
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.”
www.nextgov.com
June 16, 2025 at 5:44 PM
"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
Reposted
👋 Hello, we're the United States Institute of Peace (USIP)! We are very happy to join @bsky.app, and thrilled to announce that our website, www.usip.org, is back online! We look forward connecting here and bringing you useful content, resources and opportunities for peacebuilders around the world.
June 13, 2025 at 7:26 PM
👋 Hello, we're the United States Institute of Peace (USIP)! We are very happy to join @bsky.app, and thrilled to announce that our website, www.usip.org, is back online! We look forward connecting here and bringing you useful content, resources and opportunities for peacebuilders around the world.
Reposted
We cannot move on from what happened yesterday. A Senator being roughed up and handcuffed for trying to ask a question is what you see in a DICTATORSHIP.
Our country is at a crossroads and we need EVERY American to stand up to defend freedom, democracy and our Constitution.
Our country is at a crossroads and we need EVERY American to stand up to defend freedom, democracy and our Constitution.
We cannot move on from what happened to Alex Padilla
YouTube video by Senator Chris Van Hollen
youtube.com
June 14, 2025 at 1:47 AM
We cannot move on from what happened yesterday. A Senator being roughed up and handcuffed for trying to ask a question is what you see in a DICTATORSHIP.
Our country is at a crossroads and we need EVERY American to stand up to defend freedom, democracy and our Constitution.
Our country is at a crossroads and we need EVERY American to stand up to defend freedom, democracy and our Constitution.
Reposted
The Department of Energy is quietly slashing disability rights
The Department of Energy is quietly slashing disability rights
"If we don't put a line in the sand here, other agencies will try and do the same.”
www.motherjones.com
June 13, 2025 at 1:02 PM
The Department of Energy is quietly slashing disability rights
Reposted
"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
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.
fedscoop.com
June 12, 2025 at 9:51 PM
"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
Reposted
I talked to Fedscoop about how 18F is fighting back against DOGE’s dangerously naive approach to efficiency and security.
fedscoop.com/radio/lindsa...
fedscoop.com/radio/lindsa...
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.
fedscoop.com
June 12, 2025 at 7:17 PM
I talked to Fedscoop about how 18F is fighting back against DOGE’s dangerously naive approach to efficiency and security.
fedscoop.com/radio/lindsa...
fedscoop.com/radio/lindsa...
Reposted
"This violates guidelines laid out by the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA)."
June 11, 2025 at 8:26 PM
"This violates guidelines laid out by the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA)."
Reposted
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🧵)
June 11, 2025 at 8:26 PM
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🧵)
Reposted
"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 🫡
New DBBD episode: @ethanmarcotte.com talks responsive design 15 years on, why he left 18F, the ethics of AI, and how compassionate design and tech labor organizing can shape a better future. Listen to the full episode out now. 🔗
Compassionate Design, Career Advice and Leaving 18F with Designer Ethan Marcotte - DesignObserver
Designer Ethan Marcotte shares lessons from leaving 18F, the future of compassionate design, and what AI means for the value of our labor.
designobserver.com
June 11, 2025 at 4:49 PM
"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 🫡
Reposted
More from our appeal: the arrival of DOGE at 18F. (Text in🧵)
![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.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:szfranvpcsglqyzj5ayuqnmq/bafkreigwsnf5dhhwxpujm54imoiq5k75r3ryq57n527ksjmoz2qebpqldq@jpeg)
June 11, 2025 at 1:16 AM
More from our appeal: the arrival of DOGE at 18F. (Text in🧵)
Reposted
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🧵)
June 10, 2025 at 7:56 PM
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🧵)
Reposted
DOGE is loyal to Musk.
Granting access to Musk loyalists is an incredible risk and poses a fiscal security threat to millions of Americans.
Granting access to Musk loyalists is an incredible risk and poses a fiscal security threat to millions of Americans.
Today's shadow docket decision allowing DOGE immediate access to individual Social Security data is a flaming turd substantively and procedurally. Justice Jackson, dissenting, joined by Justice Sotomayor; Justice Kagan also would've denied the stay. www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24p...
June 6, 2025 at 9:35 PM
DOGE is loyal to Musk.
Granting access to Musk loyalists is an incredible risk and poses a fiscal security threat to millions of Americans.
Granting access to Musk loyalists is an incredible risk and poses a fiscal security threat to millions of Americans.
Reposted
"We always assumed there would be people gunning for it, but we also knew it was something people wanted. We knew it was an idea whose time had come." — @merici.bsky.social
The IRS Tax Filing Software TurboTax Is Trying to Kill Just Got Open Sourced
Direct File has been open sourced, and its creators have left government to continue working on the "future of tax filing."
www.404media.co
June 4, 2025 at 10:26 PM
"We always assumed there would be people gunning for it, but we also knew it was something people wanted. We knew it was an idea whose time had come." — @merici.bsky.social
Reposted
Here's one of the most important lessons from the creation of Direct File, IMHO: for a high-priority software project, an agency needs to protect a space for an Agile team to work in a user-centered, incremental way, damn the agency norms. A lot of people fought to protect that team, and it worked.
The IRS Tax Filing Software TurboTax Is Trying to Kill Just Got Open Sourced
Direct File has been open sourced, and its creators have left government to continue working on the "future of tax filing."
www.404media.co
June 4, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Here's one of the most important lessons from the creation of Direct File, IMHO: for a high-priority software project, an agency needs to protect a space for an Agile team to work in a user-centered, incremental way, damn the agency norms. A lot of people fought to protect that team, and it worked.
Reposted
ICYMI: We just filed a class-action appeal to challenge Trump’s unlawful purge of 18F—the team that modernized government tech. They were abruptly fired after Elon Musk (who had zero authority) declared them “deleted.”
Read more: apnews.com/article/18f-...
Read more: apnews.com/article/18f-...
Fired federal tech staffers file retaliation claim to a panel whose chairwoman Trump also fired
A group of roughly 80 fired federal employees are appealing their terminations to an administrative body in charge of protecting the rights of federal employees from partisan political practices.
apnews.com
June 3, 2025 at 12:59 PM
ICYMI: We just filed a class-action appeal to challenge Trump’s unlawful purge of 18F—the team that modernized government tech. They were abruptly fired after Elon Musk (who had zero authority) declared them “deleted.”
Read more: apnews.com/article/18f-...
Read more: apnews.com/article/18f-...
Reposted
(FYI: The guides and blog posts that @bluesky.sboots.ca mentions in this story are still available to the public: you can find them at guides.18f.org and blog.18f.org)
New blog post! 💻💰📉 “18F’s profound legacy of procurement reform” sboots.ca/2025/05/30/1...
With quotes and links from @waldo.net @danhon.com and many others, and gratitude to everyone at @alt18f.bsky.social @altusds.altgov.info and beyond who was part of this work.
With quotes and links from @waldo.net @danhon.com and many others, and gratitude to everyone at @alt18f.bsky.social @altusds.altgov.info and beyond who was part of this work.
18F’s profound legacy of procurement reform
Back in March I wrote about the elimination of the United States government’s two leading digital government teams. Beyond their digital service work, these teams also did a lot of heavy lifting to ch...
sboots.ca
June 3, 2025 at 4:14 PM
(FYI: The guides and blog posts that @bluesky.sboots.ca mentions in this story are still available to the public: you can find them at guides.18f.org and blog.18f.org)
Reposted
Means a lot that @bluesky.sboots.ca is a fan of the work we did and is continuing his great work up north.
New blog post! 💻💰📉 “18F’s profound legacy of procurement reform” sboots.ca/2025/05/30/1...
With quotes and links from @waldo.net @danhon.com and many others, and gratitude to everyone at @alt18f.bsky.social @altusds.altgov.info and beyond who was part of this work.
With quotes and links from @waldo.net @danhon.com and many others, and gratitude to everyone at @alt18f.bsky.social @altusds.altgov.info and beyond who was part of this work.
18F’s profound legacy of procurement reform
Back in March I wrote about the elimination of the United States government’s two leading digital government teams. Beyond their digital service work, these teams also did a lot of heavy lifting to ch...
sboots.ca
June 2, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Means a lot that @bluesky.sboots.ca is a fan of the work we did and is continuing his great work up north.
