5-Year Strategy at GSA Indicates Digital Government Can Rebuild Public Trust
The General Services Administration (GSA) recently identified digital government as a key strategic objective of a five-year strategic plan to restore public trust in federal agencies damaged by legacy systems and inequalities highlighted by the pandemic.
Between the fiscal years 2022 and 2026, GSA aims to deliver more trusted, accessible, user-centered technologies to federal agencies via the agency's Technology Transformation Services, Office of Information Technology Category, and Office of Government-wide Policy.
"The impacts of the global pandemic, the urgent threat of climate change, and a rapidly changing digital landscape underscore the need for innovative solutions. Technological advances offer unprecedented opportunities to deliver services more efficiently and effectively, while saving taxpayer money," stated GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan, "Now more than ever, GSA needs to continue to improve and evolve to meet the needs of our customers and the demands of a 21st-century economy."
In projects like improving vote.gov, the inter-office collaboration should result in enhancing accessibility to voting requirements and documents in a variety of languages and formats.
The strategy also lists developing plans for a USA.gov redesign to allow users to better navigate government benefits, services, and programs, eventually culminating in the consolidation of Benefits.gov and Grants.gov in one place. GSA expects the updates will improve the digital literacy of managers–a note that echoes the nature of the Data Foundation's recent report on expanding data literacy in the public sector.
“This approach would help to launch innovative offerings and sustain them by providing resources and creating a clear, repeatable model for growing new ventures,” the strategy states, “It would focus on high-impact digital transformation projects spanning multiple agencies and/or the public.”
Through the Workplace 2030 initiative, GSA aims to develop and integrate virtual workspace options and services that increase flexibility considering the increasing number of remote workers. The initiative will also examine how expanded telework and hybrid work environments can enhance performance and determine the future of federal work.
