Tech Viaduct: A New Initiative to Reform U.S. Government Services

In response to the controversial rebranding of the United States Digital Service (USDS) as DOGE under the Trump administration, a group of former USDS leaders has launched the Tech Viaduct initiative. This project aims to create a comprehensive plan to overhaul how the U.S. government delivers services to its citizens. The initiative is spearheaded by a cadre of experienced federal tech officials, including Mikey Dickerson, the first leader of USDS, and aims to produce initial recommendations by spring 2024, with a goal of implementation by 2029, contingent on a Democratic administration.

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The USDS, originally established to improve government technology services, faced significant changes during the Trump administration. The rebranding to DOGE involved a shift towards a more aggressive and less structured approach to government operations, which led to the departure of many experienced staff members. This environment of upheaval prompted Dickerson and others to consider how to leverage the momentum for reform in a more constructive direction.

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Tech Viaduct is guided by a prominent advisory panel that includes Denis McDonough, former chief of staff to President Obama and current Secretary of Veterans Affairs; Alexander Macgillivray, Deputy Chief Technology Officer under President Biden; and Robby Mook, Hillary Clinton's campaign manager. Mikey Dickerson serves as the initiative's senior adviser, bringing a wealth of experience and a critical perspective on the failures of government tech services.

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The Tech Viaduct initiative seeks to address systemic issues within government services, including the establishment of an unbiased procurement process and a merit-based hiring strategy. By creating a framework for immediate execution in 2029, the initiative aims to ensure that government services are more efficient and responsive to citizens' needs. Dickerson emphasizes the importance of designing executive orders and legislative drafts that can facilitate these changes without prolonged consensus-building processes.

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Mikey Dickerson noted the irony of being inspired by the Trump administration's disruptive approach, stating, “Trump has knocked over all the beehives—the beltway bandits, the contractor industrial complex, the union industrial complex.” He acknowledged that Democrats had missed opportunities for significant reform, saying, “For 10 years we’ve had tiny wins here and there but never terraformed the whole ecosystem.”

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While the initiative has garnered support from various tech reformers, there are concerns regarding its feasibility and the potential for political challenges. Critics argue that the ambitious timeline and the need for broad consensus may hinder the project's success, especially given the complexities of U.S. politics.

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• “The basic idea is that it’s too hard to get things done,” — Mikey Dickerson, Senior Adviser, Tech Viaduct

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• “What would that look like?” — Mikey Dickerson, reflecting on past opportunities for reform.

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• “Thinking up bright ideas is going to be the easy part,“ Dickerson says.” — Mikey Dickerson, on the challenges ahead for Tech Viaduct.

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The Tech Viaduct initiative represents a concerted effort to rethink and reform U.S. government services, aiming for a more effective and accountable system in the years to come.

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