The General Services Administration’s technology unit, known as 18F, has been eliminated as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to reduce the federal workforce. The office employed researchers, website designers, and product managers, and was responsible for projects such as building the IRS’s free tax-filing service. GSA Administrator Thomas Shedd announced the elimination in an internal email, citing the office as “non-critical.” The decision was made in alignment with the President’s Workforce Optimization EO, which requires cutting “non-essential consulting” functions. Billionaire Elon Musk, who leads the Department of Government Efficiency, has been tasked with reducing federal spending and has overseen the layoffs of thousands of workers. In response, billionaire Mark Cuban encouraged those laid off from 18F to start a consulting company, predicting that the government will eventually need their expertise to fix any issues that arise. The move to eliminate 18F suggests a larger effort within the Trump administration to streamline and reduce the federal workforce, in line with the president’s campaign promises to cut government spending. It remains to be seen how these recent cuts will impact the agency’s ability to provide support services for other government agencies and assist with presidential transitions.
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