18F, a team in the General Services Administration, was tailor-made for government efficiency and technology, writes @matteowong.bsky.social. Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency wiped it out.

I got laid off today, with the rest of 18F.

18F was an elite federal software shop. We made gov't websites work better, more efficiently for the American people. We saved taxpayers from getting screwed over by contractors. And were fired for it.

We made this website to tell our story:
18f.org

Where are the Democrats but also

Where are the churches
Where are the celebrities
Where are the NGOs
Where are the Universities
Where are professional groups like AMA
Where are the athletes
Where are the unions

What people/groups do and don’t do for next month determines our collective future

i used to be a contractor in public sector transformation- the hardest working ppl ive ever met. every single person cared SO MUCH, shepherding strategy / "do no harm" digital innovation that improved millions of lives

do not look away from what's happening to this workforce:
trumpcostsamerica.com

hi design sky!

looking to cut your teeth in accessibility design? we are hiring a midlevel designer who specializes in accessibility to join us in helping drive inclusive design!

proud to be a part of a team dedicated to designing products everyone can use ❤️

careers.marriott.com/flex-ax-digi...

personally, need to do a better job of proactively planning activities on the weekends

as a deep introvert, my default is to make them rest days, but rest days have turned into spiral days, doom days, angry at the world days 🥊

I grew up isolated, in a small Texas town.

When your family hates gay people, your peers, churches, schools, your state.

There was a time I felt embraced only by those who came before me. I know our history like the back of my hand- out of survival.

Yes, it matters.

www.npr.org/2025/02/14/g...

He founded an org to provide ASL interpreters for rap/hiphop concerts! Really cool story.

You are not powerless, and he is not unstoppable. Look at, and learn from, the funding freeze and how quickly he was forced to surrender.

Me greeting the developers of a platform on Zoom knowing I'm about to share a spreadsheet full of accessibility issues.

I think an American flag created entirely by black men at the Superbowl is one of the best pieces of art I've seen in my lifetime. I hope it actually killed some folks. And I hope it finally closes the fucking book on the argument that we shouldn't use the flag to fight the God damned fascists.

amidst all the world chaos, I was feeling a lil extra addicted to work lately (anyone else like this??) so took a day for myself ✨

energy for me: art, museums, coffee, exploring, learning, delicious food, niche gift shops, + queer voices being lifted pretty much everywhere I went

ok design sky- testing, testing is this thing on?! Is this how I contact fellow UX peers haha

what is your favorite design system as of late?

I recently came across nordhealth.design myself 🤩

simple, functional, & beautiful + storybook integration - yes please

I know nobody likes a scold. The thing is, alt text really is super useful & super easy!

To set alt text to be required, go to Settings / Accessibility, and check the box next to "Require alt text before posting."

manningkrull.com/digital-phil... #uiux #accessiblity #a11y

18F is absolutely not a 'far left' office. It is a squarely centrist tech initiative entirely focused on applying human centered design principles to improve the user experience of government digital services across every agency.

We might critique them from a design justice perspective but wow.

so much joy.

much needed cheer up this weekend. got to feed a baby capybara - capybarbara. yep- that was her perfect angel name.

dusting myself off, dragging myself out of hibernation, attempting to find community and anything else that will kick start resilience in february pls ✨