The General Services Administration (GSA) has shut down 18F, a government tech consultancy that assisted other agencies with technology projects. The decision was announced early Saturday morning by Thomas Shedd, director of GSA’s Technology Transformation Services (TTS), who described the office as “non-critical” in an email to staff. Stephen Ehikian, GSA’s acting head, informed employees on Monday that the agency would proceed with workforce reductions as part of a broader directive from the White House. Other GSA offices have also been affected or will soon face layoffs under this directive.
Shedd stated that the elimination of 18F aligns with executive orders from the White House, including one calling for widespread layoffs across federal agencies. He also cited a memo from the Trump administration requiring cuts to “non-essential consulting” functions. The move is part of a larger effort by the Trump administration to reduce the federal workforce through delayed resignation options, dismissals, and layoffs. On the day before the announcement, 12 senior executives at the Federal Acquisition Service within GSA left their positions.
18F was established in the same year as the U.S. Digital Service (USDS), which has since been restructured into Elon Musk’s DOGE initiative. Musk has expressed interest in modernizing outdated government technology, though legacy staffers at USDS have reportedly been fired or resigned in protest. Musk mentioned on his social media platform X that 18F and TTS had been “deleted” weeks ago, reposting criticism of 18F’s work on the IRS’ free tax filing system, Direct File.
Over its decade-long existence, 18F worked on 450 government tech projects, including redesigning the Justice Department’s ada.gov website to improve accessibility. The team’s size fluctuated over the years, peaking at over 100 technologists. Approximately 90 employees were impacted by the closure, according to two affected individuals. The 18F website emphasized its mission-driven approach, stating, “As federal employees, we don’t have conflicts of interest, just dedication to your mission.”
The head of GSA has been exploring the use of AI to reduce headcount further. This development reflects ongoing efforts to streamline federal operations, though critics argue it may hinder progress in modernizing government technology.
— news from Nextgov/FCW