United States Digital Service
The United States Digital Service is an elite technology unit housed within the Executive Office of the President of the United States. It provides consultation services to federal agencies on information technology. It seeks to improve and simplify digital service, and to improve federal websites. It was launched on August 11, 2014.
The US Digital Service is the creator of:
- A Digital Services Playbook, for improving digital government
- Draft Web Design Standards, for building consistent, beautiful, accessible federal government websites
- TechFAR Handbook, on federal contracting and procurement
- College Scorecard, to help students and their families make more informed decisions about college selection
The United States Digital Service submits a report to Congress each year detailing its projects and accomplishments. Its federal agency work spans across the Veterans Affairs, Department of Defense, Small Business Administration, General Services Administration, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Education, and Health and Human Services.
The United States Digital Service was the brainchild of Jennifer Pahlka, who took the job of US Deputy CTO in 2013 with the goal of creating an elite government technology unit at the White House that would be equivalent to the UK Government Digital Service. The first head of the US Digital Service was Mikey Dickerson, a former Google engineer who was involved in the 2013-2014 rescue of HealthCare.gov website. He was succeeded by Matt Cutts.
