I am heartbroken by this. As someone who works in website design, I looked to 18F for guidance on information architecture, inclusive design and so many other things. When I had a design-related question, they were one of my go-to resources. Just a few weeks ago, I referenced and linked to a resource on their site as part of my work. I respected their work so much. I hope the people who worked there know how grateful we are for all they gave to us.
The elimination of 18F is certainly an extreme and devastating political act. However, I want to comment on your interpretation of the motivation--that it is based on its (perceived) politics and demography. Though I don't have any special insight that would suggest this is not true, it is only one of several possible explanations. The most obvious to me is that, because 18F lines up with DOGE's purported mission, as you pointed out, its existence (along with its relationship to USDS) only serves to expose DOGE's contradictions.
A government that operates so effective it removes the need for a commercial workaround (like TurboTax for filing)? The idea!
Recently commercial weather app providers in The Netherlands sued the public weather agency to stop that agency from providing a good weather app. For them, it pays for government to deliver poor service, otherwise they can't make money (from the data provided by that government agency). Adam Smith: never automatically trust entrepreneurs when they argue something the government should or shouldn't do: they are only in it for themselves.
Hmm. You know what? If Musk succeeds in totally crippling the government, many commercial opportunities will arrive. Government made maximally into a collection of private (for-profit) enterprises? Snow Crash, anyone?
I am heartbroken by this. As someone who works in website design, I looked to 18F for guidance on information architecture, inclusive design and so many other things. When I had a design-related question, they were one of my go-to resources. Just a few weeks ago, I referenced and linked to a resource on their site as part of my work. I respected their work so much. I hope the people who worked there know how grateful we are for all they gave to us.
This administration is truly a menace.
The elimination of 18F is certainly an extreme and devastating political act. However, I want to comment on your interpretation of the motivation--that it is based on its (perceived) politics and demography. Though I don't have any special insight that would suggest this is not true, it is only one of several possible explanations. The most obvious to me is that, because 18F lines up with DOGE's purported mission, as you pointed out, its existence (along with its relationship to USDS) only serves to expose DOGE's contradictions.
True. However the “several possible explanations” are not necessarily mutually exclusive.
Agreed, absolutely.
A government that operates so effective it removes the need for a commercial workaround (like TurboTax for filing)? The idea!
Recently commercial weather app providers in The Netherlands sued the public weather agency to stop that agency from providing a good weather app. For them, it pays for government to deliver poor service, otherwise they can't make money (from the data provided by that government agency). Adam Smith: never automatically trust entrepreneurs when they argue something the government should or shouldn't do: they are only in it for themselves.
Hmm. You know what? If Musk succeeds in totally crippling the government, many commercial opportunities will arrive. Government made maximally into a collection of private (for-profit) enterprises? Snow Crash, anyone?
From the home page of https://tts.gsa.gov/ (so far):
"Every interaction with the public is an opportunity to improve trust in the government.
GSA's Technology Transformation Services (TTS) exists to design and deliver a digital government with and for the American public."
No wonder they hate it.