Why Close 18F?

In this episode of "The Leftish Agenda", Eddie discusses the closure of the General Services Administration's digital consultancy GSA 18F. Its closure marked a hit to the government's tech innovation, but the outfit, created in 2014, left significant impacts on the government's approach to technology. GSA 18F championed a user-centered approach, agile development, and open-source solutions to create efficient and intuitive digital services. Eddie highlights key initiatives GSA 18F led, from creating the Digital Service Playbook to redesigning public-facing government websites for better usability. However, shifts in political and fiscal priorities reducing federal spending during the Trump administration led to GSA 18F’s closure, showing how these variables can greatly affect government programs. Despite its closure, Eddie pointed out that the principles GSA 18F stood for are still relevant today in the public and private sectors.