Author Archive
Natalie Alms
Staff Reporter, Nextgov/FCW

Natalie Alms is a staff reporter at Nextgov/FCW covering federal technology policy, service delivery, customer experience and the government's tech workforce. She is a graduate of Wake Forest University and has written for the Salisbury (N.C.) Post. Connect with Natalie on Twitter at @AlmsNatalie. If you have a tip you'd like to share, Natalie can be securely contacted at nalms.41 on Signal.
Modernization
IRS is evaluating its tech investments and modernization
The agency has been trying to update a tax processing system that uses an outdated programming code for over a decade.
- By Natalie Alms
Exclusive
Modernization
SSA weighs axing payments to 170,000 beneficiaries
The move to cease making payments to people without Social Security numbers would imperil the benefits of thousands of immigrants’ children with disabilities.
- By Erich Wagner and Natalie Alms
Breaking News
People
DHS taps Antoine McCord for top tech post
McCord is a former Marine and is excited about the use of AI in the agency, people familiar say.
- By Natalie Alms and David DiMolfetta
Updated
Digital Government
Shrinking tech team endangers a nationwide disease tracking system at CDC
The CDC was in the middle of updating a public health surveillance system when the Trump administration started shedding workers. What happens next could exemplify the impact to key government programs and systems when tech teams are cut.
- By Natalie Alms
People
Lawsuit outlines how DOGE pushed for access to Social Security systems and data
Democracy Forward and unions are asking courts to block DOGE’s access to the troves of personal data held at the agency.
- By Natalie Alms
People
GSA continues slow drip of RIFs, nearly wiping out entire offices
More cuts are coming. Staff in the Technology Transformation Services were told Thursday that their team will be cut by 50%.
- By Eric Katz and Natalie Alms
Digital Government
GSA preps code for shutdown of text service for government benefits
Though the agency did not confirm whether a Notify.gov shutdown was in the works, the agency’s Github repository shows code for an “end of life” banner for the service.
- By Natalie Alms
Policy
Social Security bans news access on government equipment
Employees were told Monday that “general news” will be blocked.
- By Natalie Alms
Digital Government
Login.gov is key to administration anti-fraud efforts, GSA official says
Early in the administration, some in Trump’s orbit had called for the single-sign on and identity proofing service to be gutted.
- By Natalie Alms
People
GSA eliminates 18F
The latest workforce action at the General Services Administration includes the elimination of an entire tech team of around 90 employees.
- By Natalie Alms
Breaking News
Acquisition
Trump administration asks agencies to cull consultants
A memo dated Wednesday asks agencies to review their contracts with 10 of the “highest paid” companies.
- By Natalie Alms, Ross Wilkers and Frank Konkel
Featured eBooks
Breaking News
People
Top Social Security deputies leave amid rumored staff cuts
At least five of the eight regional heads have decided to leave as the mid-level worker-turned-acting commissioner is said to mull workforce reduction.
- By Natalie Alms and Erich Wagner
People
Social Security shutters its civil rights and transformation offices
Among the people affected are those managing the agency’s website, a front door to services for Americans online.
- By Natalie Alms
People
21 legacy USDS staffers resign rather than work for DOGE
The employees cited the compromise of core government systems, significant security risks and their re-interview experiences in their rationale for leaving the team.
- By Natalie Alms
People
GSA takes ‘sledgehammer’ to workforce with planned layoffs
The agency’s acting administrator informed employees Monday that a reduction in force effort was impending.
- By Natalie Alms and Eric Katz
People
‘What did you do last week?’ Feds get mixed signals on whether to respond
Responses to the new governmentwide email system are meant to be voluntary, as OPM has advised agencies, but billionaire Elon Musk has said feds risk their employment if they choose not to respond — and some agencies are still telling feds to do so.
- By Natalie Alms
People
IRS expected to fire 6,700 employees beginning Thursday
The terminations will walk back much of the progress IRS, which is in the midst of tax season, has made in recent years to increase its workforce.
- By Eric Katz and Natalie Alms
Digital Government
Longtime GSA employee quits rather than give Musk ally access to Notify.gov
The leader of the Technology Transformation Services at GSA wanted access to a text messaging platform for government agencies.
- By Natalie Alms
People
Dozens of employees at U.S. DOGE Service dismissed
Personnel from Elon Musk's efficiency service were the latest to be dismissed.
- By Natalie Alms
People
GSA to cut at least 100 employees, feds inside the agency say
Employees within the agency’s Technology Transformation Services received calls from supervisors Wednesday informing them of their impending dismissals.
- By Natalie Alms