United States Digital Service

We’re solving big problems

Millions of people use Federal Government services every day. Veterans apply for health care. Immigrants apply for naturalization. Too often, outdated tools and complex systems make these interactions cumbersome and frustrating.

To improve these services, USDS hires top technologists into term-limited ‘tours of civic service.’ By working alongside civil servants, they help build better tools for the people.

Learn about our mission

Shipping code, delivering services

Our small, highly empowered teams use their expertise to develop human-centered solutions to the Federal Government’s most pressing technical challenges. Explore a few of our projects.

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Cross-agency Changing how the government hires technical talent

We helped develop a process that allows HR to leverage subject matter experts to evaluate candidates for specialized roles. The result restores fair and open access for all applicants, shortens the hiring timeline, and ensures applicants are truly qualified.

Health and Human Services Modernizing the Medicare Payment System

Eight million lines of COBOL and 2.5 million lines of assembly running on 15 mainframes. 4.5 percent of the entire American economy is fueled by Medicare payments and 53 million people depend on it for their healthcare.

Veterans Affairs Helping Veterans upgrade their Discharge Status

A customized, plain language tool gives Veterans step-by-step guidance for submitting a strong application to upgrade their discharge status.

Health and Human Services Empowering beneficiaries with their own health data

Leveraging CMS APIs, providers can view of their patients’ full healthcare history without patient intervention. Providers save valuable time that they can better spend talking to patients and preventing conflicts or gaps in care.

Veterans Affairs Simplifying Veteran‑facing services through VA.gov

Each month, over 10 million people attempt to access the digital tools and content at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and have historically struggled to find what they’re looking for. Digital modernization efforts needed to focus on improving the user experience.

Department of Homeland Security Helping schools keep students safe

A website that empowers emergency managers and K–12 administrators with the information they need to improve school safety.

Cross-agency Improving how the government buys technology

As the pace of innovation has accelerated, the government’s ability to meet people’s expectations of functional digital solutions has not kept pace. To meet this demand, we created an immersive development and training program to improve digital services acquisition expertise across government agencies.

Health and Human Services Implementing a new, quality-based Medicare payment system

The Quality Payment Program API makes it easy for clinicians to submit quality metrics to CMS and for the government to review and return feedback promptly, which leads to greater health outcomes for patients and a more positive experience with value-based care for providers.

By the people, for the people

Every person, from all walks of life, interacts with their government. We hire technologists from diverse backgrounds to improve the services that millions rely on. Meet a few staff members who have signed on for tours of civic service.

Meet more staff

Alum / Engineering Robbie Holmes

“I am intrigued to see what will be able to engage me and feel as impactful as my time here!”

Alum / Design Annie Nguyen

“Making sure we can improve, design, and iterate on a printed piece of paper, while explaining policy in a more human-centered way was a challenge I wasn’t expecting.”

Alum / Communications David Kaufman

“But when you serve at USDS, you wake up every day, serve your country, and have the opportunity to change the lives of millions of Americans.”

Alum / Product Marvourneen Dolor

“I was inspired to join USDS because technology can do more than entertain and amaze us. Combined with good government, it can be a force for good in people’s lives.”

Staff / Design Meg Peters

“My friends here inspire me. When the work demands 110% from us, we lean on each other until we get “all the things” done.”

Alum / Engineering Neil Sharma

“Honestly, it was a leap of faith more than informed decision. I packed my things and moved to DC knowing no one in the city. Turns out it was a fantastic decision.”

Alum / Product Kasia Chmielinski

“Making responsible decisions about complex issues requires representation at the table where the decisions are being made.”

Alum / Procurement Brent Maravilla

“And my resolve to contribute to the movement was only strengthened when I heard about how USDS works, their values, and the awesome things they had delivered.”