The Dawn of a New Era in Government Technology
The launch of Healthcare.gov, the government health insurance marketplace website, in October 2013, was met with technical issues, as it struggled to handle just 2,000 simultaneous users. This led to a political crisis, but it also marked the beginning of a new era in government technology.

The Birth of 18F
In response to the Healthcare.gov debacle, 18F, an in-house digital services consulting agency, was founded on March 19, 2014, by Presidential Innovation Fellows. 18F was housed within the Technology Transformation Services department of the General Services Administration (GSA) and was named after the address of GSA headquarters: 1800 F Street. Unfortunately, on March 1, 2025, the Trump administration eliminated the agency, just shy of its 11th anniversary, and laid off its staff.

A Transformational Role in Government Digital Services
As a researcher who studies public administration and technology, I have observed the significant impact 18F had on government digital services. The unit’s elimination raises questions about the future of these services. 18F served as an in-house digital consultancy for the U.S. government, using innovative strategies to improve public services through technology. Teams of designers, software engineers, strategists, and product managers worked together with federal, state, and local agencies to build, buy, and share technology that modernized and improved the public’s experience with government services.

Impact of 18F

Over nearly 11 years, 18F built an impressive portfolio of successful digital projects that transformed how people interact with the U.S. government. The average person may not be familiar with 18F, but they likely have encountered one of its many products or services. For example, 18F supported the Internal Revenue Service in creating IRS Direct File, a free online tax filing tool that provides taxpayers with a simplified filing process. As of today, IRS Direct File is available in 25 states and is expected to serve 30 million eligible taxpayers during the 2025 tax filing season.

18F was also pivotal in modernizing and securing digital systems to create more streamlined and secure user experiences for the public. Login.gov, a secure single sign-on platform, simplifies access to multiple government services for users. Perhaps the most notable of 18F’s modernization efforts is the U.S. Web Design System, a comprehensive design system developed in collaboration with the U.S. Digital Service in 2015. It supports dozens of agencies and makes nearly 200 websites more accessible and responsive to user needs.

How 18F Worked

What set 18F apart was its approach. Rather than spending years on giant information technology contracts that often failed to deliver, 18F championed agile development. Agile and lean methodologies, popular in Silicon Valley startups and software companies, focus on flexibility and rapid iteration. By applying agile development principles, 18F focused on breaking down large projects into manageable pieces with incremental improvements based on frequent user feedback.

Another cornerstone of 18F’s innovative approach was its focus on user-centered design. By understanding the needs of the people who actually used government services, 18F was able to design digital products that were more accessible and user-friendly. The idea was to provide a consistent user experience and earn users’ trust in the services. By prioritizing open-source development and collaboration, 18F also made government IT more affordable.

End of an Era

The elimination of 18F marks the end of an era, raising concerns about both current and future technology projects. As of now, there does not appear to be a succession plan, leaving many federal agencies without ongoing support for their digital transformation efforts. Critics argue that the loss of 18F means the loss of significant technical expertise within the government. These changes come at a time when agencies are experiencing substantial personnel shifts, rendering digital services potentially even more critical.

Since the news was announced, current and former 18F team members, as well as advocates of the unit, have taken to social media platforms to share stories of its successes, honor its legacy, and share 18F resources. The future of government digital services remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: 18F’s impact will be felt for years to come.

Kayla Schwoerer, Assistant Professor of Public Administration & Policy, University at Albany, State University of New York

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.