USDS head Mina Hsiang wants Big Tech’s best minds to help fix the government

Decoder with Nilay Patel

Vox Media Podcast Network

Technology, Business

4.3 • 3.2K Ratings

🗓️ 12 December 2023

⏱️ 68 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

The US Digital Service has a fascinating structure: it comprises nearly 250 people, all of whom serve two-year stints developing apps, improving websites, and streamlining government services. You could call USDS the product and design consultancy for the rest of the government. The Obama administration launched the USDS in 2014, after the disastrous rollout of healthcare.gov and the tech sprint that saved it. USDS administrator Mina Hsiang explains to Decoder how it all works, and what she hopes it can do next. Links: Here’s Why Healthcare.gov Broke Down (2013) Obamacare's 'tech surge' adds manpower to an already-bloated project (2013) Decoder: Barack Obama on AI, free speech, and the future of the internet Jeff Bezos Confirmed the "Question Mark Method" A comprehensive list of 2023 tech layoffs Tech to Gov U.S. Digital Corps Presidential Innovation Fellows AI.gov United States Digital Service Transcript: https://www.theverge.com/e/23761681 Credits: Decoder is a production of The Verge, and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network. Today’s episode was produced by Kate Cox and Nick Statt and was edited by Callie Wright. The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder. Our Executive Producer is Eleanor Donovan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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1:14.6	slash Decoder to get your own KPI checklist. Net Suite.
1:18.6	com slash Decoder.
1:20.5	Hello and welcome to Decoder.
1:25.0	I'm Neline Patel, editor-in-chief of The Verge, and
1:27.2	Decoder is my show about big ideas and other problems.
1:30.6	Today I'm talking with Meena Shung, the administrator of the United States Digital Service.
1:35.0	That's the tech unit of the executive branch.
1:37.0	You might think of it as the White House's product and design consultancy for the rest of the government.
	...

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