Digital Government

The money's out the door in nationwide unemployment insurance modernization push

A Labor Department official said efforts to help states modernize their UI systems are trending in the right direction, but funding may be insufficient.

Digital Government

IRS watchdog questions taxpayer demand for direct file services

A recent oversight report questions whether taxpayers are actually as interested in a direct, government-run tax filing tool as the IRS claims.

Ideas

Solving government employee experience crisis

COMMENTARY | When equipped with leading-edge technology and supported by private sector partners who understand and value the government's mission, federal employees can better serve the citizens that depend on government service.

Digital Government

Biden administration inches ahead on 'life experiences' projects

The White House shared updates on cross-agency projects designed to improve and streamline government service delivery. 

Ideas

Empathy, continuous feedback are keys to CX success

COMMENTARY | How human-centered design can optimize outcomes for customer experience initiatives.

Digital Government

VA extends PACT Act filing deadline after website glitches

The Department of Veterans Affairs is giving eligible veterans an extra week to announce their intention to submit claims under a law that expands benefits for exposure to toxic substances.

Digital Government

GAO: IRS must enhance cyber oversight of third-party vendors, modernize online services

The IRS continues to ignore GAO’s recommendation to streamline oversight of third-party tax vendors’ cyber practices, despite concerns about mitigating digital threats.

Digital Government

How the Agriculture Department is ‘hardwiring’ customer experience into its work

The department’s chief customer experience officer, Simchah Suveyke-Bogin, told Nextgov/FCW that her primary goal is building capacity for customer experience.

Digital Government

IRS seeks states’ input on its direct file pilot

States have until Sept. 4 to tell the IRS if they’re interested in participating.

Modernization

State Department wants IT support for modernizing its consular systems

The department is conducting market research for modernization capabilities to help improve customer experience at passport agencies, its global queueing system and embassy and consulate waiting areas.

Artificial Intelligence

What will the federal government do with generative AI?

Federal employees are going to see AI tools show up in cloud-based productivity suites sooner rather than later, but it's not clear yet how the trending tech will impact public-facing digital services.

Digital Government

New bill aims to simplify federal grant applications, boost funding for underserved communities

The Streamlining Federal Grants Act was introduced by a bipartisan trio of senators to build upon a 2019 law.

Digital Government

CDC rolls out new COVID-19 website

The reworked COVID-19 website is part of a larger push to make the public health agency’s web presence easier to navigate, with plans to relaunch CDC.gov early next year.

Digital Government

Is government culture stifling CX innovation?

Risk aversion among government managers is blocking needed improvements to key programs, according to a recent white paper.

Emerging Tech

Trade groups press White House to digitize forms of identification

Stronger digital identity solutions would curb future cyber attacks driven by identity and make stolen personal data less valuable, a coalition of 10 trade groups writes in a new letter.

Modernization

Budget and tech challenges loom over IRS's direct file pilot

The news of the forthcoming pilot was followed this week by a compromise debt ceiling bill that includes reallocating $20 billion of the funding the IRS got as part of the Inflation Reduction Act.

Digital Government

How Feds Think Data Can Buy Time for People Suffering a Financial Shock

Financial assistance programs need to respond quickly to be effective. The vast troves of government data offer opportunities to shave down that time.

Digital Government

The IRS Answered 2.4M More Taxpayer Phone Calls During 2023 Filing Season

Inflation Reduction Act funding paid dividends for the IRS during the 2023 tax filing season.

Digital Government

Inter-Agency Effort Targets the Half of Veterans Who Never Engage With VA

The resource hub out of the departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs is part of a larger White House initiative to better respond to the life experiences of Americans.