Overview

• An executive order establishes a White House–based National Design Studio and a Chief Design Officer role to modernize digital and physical government services, with the studio set to sunset three years after Aug. 21, 2025.
• Gebbia, the Airbnb co-founder, says his goal is beautifully designed, modern, easy-to-use federal sites, and he will recruit private‑sector designers to help deliver that vision.
• Agency heads must consult the CDO, prioritize high‑impact services, produce initial results by July 4, 2026, and work with GSA to update the U.S. Web Design System and comply with the 21st Century IDEA Act.
• The White House cites roughly 26,000 federal websites, less than 20% using USWDS code, and only 6% rated good for mobile performance as evidence of the need for overhaul.
• Reporting indicates the IRS will be an early focus, and some officials describe the National Design Studio as a scaled‑down successor to Elon Musk’s former DOGE effort.