The Trump administration is laying off numerous technology specialists from the General Services Administration’s 18F unit, which developed software for agencies like the IRS and passport services. This decision, deemed a noncritical cut per leadership directives, leaves employees on administrative leave until the end of April. Thomas Shedd, the unit’s director, communicated the layoffs, anticipating more changes. Established to enhance digital infrastructure post-healthcare.gov failures, 18F is now facing criticism from its employees, who argue the abrupt terminations hindered project transitions. Their contributions included developing the IRS’s free tax filing service and improving weather data access.
The Trump administration is halting the employment of numerous technology specialists whose diverse range of projects throughout the government encompassed the I.R.S.’s complimentary tax filing software as well as passport services.
These specialists were part of a unit at the General Services Administration known as 18F, responsible for developing software and technological products for various federal agencies, aiming to enhance efficiency and better serve the public. An email sent to staff at the agency’s Technology Transformation Services over the weekend by Thomas Shedd, a former Tesla engineer who currently directs the division, indicated that 18F had been deemed noncritical and would face cuts.
“This decision was made with explicit guidance from the highest levels of leadership within both the administration and G.S.A.,” Mr. Shedd stated in the email, a copy of which was obtained by The New York Times. He mentioned that while no other Technology Transformation Services programs were impacted, “we expect more changes in the future.”
In letters of termination dated Friday, workers were notified that their positions would be eliminated in accordance with President Trump’s directives to reduce the size of the government. Employees have been placed on administrative leave until their official release at the end of April, according to copies of the letters reviewed by The New York Times.
A representative for the G.S.A. stated that the administration would continue to support technological advancements that would enhance and modernize the government’s digital framework and I.T. capabilities, while confirming that the employees of 18F had been notified of their impending layoffs.
Among the prominent websites that 18F employees contributed to or improved are the Internal Revenue Service’s free tax filing service known as Direct File and the National Weather Service’s website, weather.gov.
However, since Mr. Trump returned to office, 18F has also been singled out by Elon Musk, the tech billionaire assigned by Mr. Trump to cut back on government operations. Mr. Musk commented last month on his social media platform, X, that “that group has been deleted.”
The Obama administration established 18F and the U.S. Digital Service in 2014 to aid agencies in developing and integrating digital software, following the problematic launch of healthcare.gov, which malfunctioned on its first day. The new offices were intended to serve as internal technology consulting firms, aiming to manage costs and enhance the efficiency of the government’s digital services.
The U.S. Digital Service was one of the first sectors of the government to undergo a transformation under Musk, who renamed it the U.S. DOGE Service — the entity through which Mr. Musk has reduced contracts and pressured government employees to resign.
Shortly after receiving Mr. Shedd’s notice on Saturday, employees of 18F set up a website to express their concerns about the Trump administration and accused higher management of undermining an operation they had acclaimed just weeks prior.
The 18F employees referenced an internal meeting from early February where Mr. Shedd, according to them, characterized the group as the “gold standard” of civic technologists, and “repeatedly highlighted the significance of the work and the value of the talent that the teams contribute to the government.”
Their operations were halted so abruptly, the suspended employees continued, they were unable to facilitate an orderly transition or even learn where to return their equipment. Prior to their suspensions, 18F staff had been working to assist the I.R.S. with free filing software, improve access to weather information at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and streamline the passport procurement process.