Improving Our Nation Through Better Design
This Executive Order establishes "America by Design," a White House-led initiative to improve the look, usability, and consistency of federal digital and physical services. It creates a National Design Studio (NDS) inside the White House, including a new Chief Design Officer (CDO) and an Administrator to run the NDS, plus a temporary supporting organization that ends in three years. Agencies must work with the CDO to update high‑impact websites and physical service points and deliver initial results by July 4, 2026. The order aims to reduce duplicated design work, modernize the U.S. Web Design System, and recruit top private‑sector design talent to improve citizens’ experiences interacting with government. If implemented effectively, the initiative could make federal services easier to use, reduce time and transaction costs for the public, and lower long‑term maintenance expenses for agencies. It also centralizes design guidance and coordination, which could speed standard adoption but will require funding, interagency cooperation, and careful attention to agency-specific requirements (including accessibility, security, and legal constraints).
Key Points
- 1Establishes America by Design and the National Design Studio (NDS) within the White House to lead a government‑wide design modernization effort.
- 2Creates a new Chief Design Officer (CDO) and an NDS Administrator reporting to the White House Chief of Staff; establishes a temporary organization within NDS that will terminate three years from the order date.
- 3Requires heads of executive agencies to consult with the CDO, prioritize improvements to websites and physical sites that most affect people’s daily lives, and produce initial results by July 4, 2026.
- 4Directs the Administrator of General Services (GSA) to work with the CDO to update the United States Web Design System (the government’s design standard for federal websites) and requires agency compliance with the 21st Century Integrated Digital Experience Act (IDEA).
- 5Authorizes the CDO to recruit designers and experts from the private sector and other sources, and directs agencies to use available hiring authorities (including Title IV of the Intergovernmental Personnel Act) to bring talent into government service; the CDO will consult with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) as appropriate.