Better websites. Better government.

How to implement 21st Century IDEA

Requirements for delivering a digital-first public experience —Learn how to implement 21st Century IDEA to design and deliver better websites and digital services.
Understanding the Digital Analytics Program —The Digital Analytics Program (DAP) offers advanced, easy web analytics for federal agencies.
An introduction to domain management —A .gov domain instantly conveys credibility and trustworthiness, and proper domain management practices ensure that your website is secure …
An introduction to search —Learn why search functionality is an important component of federal websites, and discover how to add a search function to your website.
An introduction to digital governance —Learn why governance is essential to digital experience.

Digital.gov Communities of Practice

Collaborate and share resources with other communities across government who are focused on building better digital experience in government.

2,501 Members

Improve written and verbal communication to make government more effective.

380 Members

Explore methods of service delivery that improve customer experience in government contact centers.

739 Members

Expand and improve digital content in languages other than English.

2,408 Members

Promote the use of plain language to provide better service to the public.

1,509 Members

Improve social media outreach and performance.

2,285 Members

Create better user-centered products for the public.

1,061 Members

Make better decisions using web analytics and other optimization strategies.

2,166 Members

Create a better online experience for the public alongside government web content managers.

News and Events

Innovative work, news, and ideas from people and teams in government

Write for us

A journey of improvement: Creating a self-assessment for digital experience

Memo M-23-22 from the Office of Management and Budget provides guidance to federal agencies on delivering a digital-first public experience. To quantify its compliance with the memo, the Open Data, Design, and Development team at the Department of the Interior created and conducted a self-assessment of its digital products. The team used a scoring spreadsheet to measure compliance across categories like accessibility, design consistency, and mobile responsiveness. The results helped the team develop a plan to prioritize improvements and engage with leadership for support on other initiatives.— via Office of Natural Resources Revenue

Aug 20, 2024

User research and the Paperwork Reduction Act

User research is an important part of customer experience transformation. Different types of research require different approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). Through seven case studies, the U.S. Digital Service shows how agencies conducted valuable user research that did not require PRA approval and successfully integrated findings into their projects. Their work illustrates how thoughtful user research transforms delivery of services and helps agencies build trust in government.— via U.S. Digital Service

Aug 20, 2024

The U.S. Web Design System team will answer community questions and give an update on their work developing web components for the design system.

10 years of the U.S. Digital Service: Transforming government for the digital age

Over the past decade, the U.S. Digital Service (USDS) has collaborated with more than 30 federal agencies to create user-friendly, reliable, and seamless digital experiences. Their work prioritizing human-centered design and engineering includes improving services for veterans with Veterans Affairs, launching the Internal Revenue Service Direct File Pilot, and supporting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during the COVID-19 pandemic. Looking ahead, USDS remains committed to building trust, fostering innovation, and scaling digital capacity across the federal government, ensuring better service for all Americans.— via The White House

Aug 13, 2024

Department of Justice recognizes anniversary of executive order to improve access for people with limited English profiency

The Department of Justice recently marked the 24th anniversary of Executive Order 13166, which aims to improve access to federal services for individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP). Its Civil Rights Division reviewed language access plans across federal agencies, emphasizing progress in hiring and staff training, improving language assistance services, and expanding multilingual content. The department is committed to eliminating language barriers in federal programs, improving communication and access for all communities.— via Department of Justice

Aug 12, 2024

Department of Labor, General Services Administration to centralize government benefits information on USA.gov and USAGov en Español

In September 2024, Benefits.gov will be discontinued, with its services and information moved to USA.gov and USAGov en Español. This change, which aligns with Executive Order 14058: Transforming Federal Customer Experience and Service Delivery to Rebuild Trust in Government, aims to create a seamless, user-friendly experience for accessing government benefits in both English and Spanish. The new platform, with a focus on equitable access to information, will feature improved navigation and benefit-finding tools.— via General Services Administration

Aug 07, 2024

IT warning banners: How GSA is working to stop unnecessarily frightening users

OMB Memo M-23-22 discourages the use of pop-ups and modals. GSA IT updated security policies so that IT warning banners are presented less intrusively to users.

Jessica Marine

Aug 07, 2024

Developing an easier way to recruit user research participants

USA.gov and 10x recently partnered to develop a new user research recruitment page. The page launched in February 2024 and has attracted hundreds of sign-ups. It allows participants to assist in testing government websites for compensation, and helps teams find participants that match needed demographics. By simplifying the process and expanding recruitment of diverse populations, the initiative aims to support and streamline user research. It plans to add recruitment opportunities in additional languages and recruit more specific audiences for future studies.— via USA.gov

Aug 06, 2024

Supporting innovation through the American Rescue Plan

GSA uses American Rescue Plan funding for over 40 initiatives to foster community, improve user experiences, and empower underserved populations.

Ambuj Neupane

Aug 01, 2024

Reassessing priorities: Adapting to additional work without additional resources

The Office of Natural Resources Revenue’s Open Data, Design, and Development (ODD) team is taking on management of a fourth website, despite being short-staffed. As a result, they have revisited and reprioritized their yearly goals. To do so, they utilized a prioritization matrix, developed a structured impact assessment, and laid out a transition plan. Their process ensured realistic workload adjustments, improved team morale, and highlighted the importance of practical goal-setting, especially when teams are short-staffed.— via Office of Natural Resources Revenue

Jul 23, 2024

Better websites. Better government.

How to implement 21st Century IDEA

Digital.gov Communities of Practice

Communicators

Contact Center

Multilingual

Plain Language

Social Media

User Experience

Web Analytics

Web Managers