Code for America Statement on America.gov

The ambition behind America.gov—to make government easier to navigate—is something we can and should pursue. This is exactly the type of problem that AI can help solve. 

But the technology is the easier part. Doing it right—as in delivering meaningful benefits that improve people’s lives—is much harder. 

We’ve been down this path before: a new website, tool, or platform that promises to transform government. But the measure of success isn’t whether government has adopted a new technology. The true measure is that technology's impact on people often experiencing one of the hardest moments of their lives. Can a single mother get help paying for child care? Can a veteran get the benefits they’ve earned? Can an older adult keep their health coverage?

If the administration is serious about creating a simpler front door to government, we must seize the opportunity to help get it right. At Code for America, we have more than 15 years of experience making government work better for everyone—from making it easier to access food and healthcare assistance to supporting free tax filing in the states. 

Those experiences have taught us a recipe that works: start with the people at the center, use the best technology available, not the flashiest, and measure success by whether people actually get the help they need. This means asking questions like: What are we trying to accomplish? Is AI the right tool? Is there a simpler solution? If we can answer those questions, we can build a future government that’s not only efficient and effective, but more humane. 

Ambition is important. Execution is what matters. The ultimate test is not how much AI the government uses. It is whether government better serves people.