Tessera
Folgen

Chris Given

@cmgiven.bsky.social

Public policy + technology + data. I used to lead the team designing and building IRS Direct File. REASON FOR TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT IN SUPPORT OF THE SMARTER INFORMATION https://chrisgiven.com

26 Posts133 Follower78 Folgt
Alt18F@alt18f.bsky.social · 9mo ago

18F was proud to support the IRS, alongside the US Digital Service and other partners, in building Direct File. While disappointed in this latest outcome, we know our work together has shown what’s possible in civic tech when we put the American public first.

Greg Greene (he/him/his)@greene.haus · 9mo ago

Direct File is survived by its code, lovingly preserved on GitHub for potential revival whenever the leaders of the executive branch are no longer bent on looting the country.

GitHub - IRS-Public/direct-file: Direct File

Direct File. Contribute to IRS-Public/direct-file development by creating an account on GitHub.

github.com

Jacob Bogage@jacobbogage.bsky.social · 9mo ago

👀 Scoop: IRS Direct File, the free government-backed program that let you file your taxes for free, is dead. IRS wrote to state tax agencies saying it would not be operational this coming tax season, per records I've obtained. IRS Direct File: 2023-2025. (Story from when the pilot launched.)

Alt18F@alt18f.bsky.social · 11mo ago

Whistleblower reports, letters of dissent, appeals, refusals, resignations—this week saw many civil servants taking personal risks to honor their oath and serve the public interest the best they can. We recognize your courage. 🇺🇸

Chris Given@cmgiven.bsky.social · 11mo ago

Gabriel Zucker and I have some advice for state leaders wondering what comes next after Direct File. Rather than copying DF itself, we should learn from *how* the IRS built with taxpayers and created an experience that only the IRS could deliver. (1/3) economicsecurityproject.org/news/states-...

States should look beyond Direct File to keep the spirit of reform alive - Economic Security Project

Many state tax administrators approached Direct File with a healthy skepticism — could the IRS really deliver in a matter of months, and would it be worth it for states to join on such short notice? B...

economicsecurityproject.org

Don Moynihan@donmoyn.bsky.social · 11mo ago

Full resignation letter from Demetre C. Daskalakis, a CDC leader, does not hold back. "The recent shooting at CDC is not why I am resigning. My grandfather, who I am named after, stood up to fascist forces in Greece and lost his life doing so. I am resigning to make him and his legacy proud."

My resignation letter from CDC. Dear Dr. Houry, I am writing to formally resign from my position as Director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), effective August 28, 2025, close of business. I am happy to stay on for two weeks to provide transition, if requested. This decision has not come easily, as I deeply value the work that the CDC does in safeguarding public health and am proud of my contributions to that critical mission. However, after much contemplation and reflection on recent developments and perspectives brought to light by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., I find that the views he and his staff have shared challenge my ability to continue in my current role at the agency and in the service of the health of the American people. Enough is enough. While I hold immense respect for the institution and my colleagues, I believe that it is imperative to align my professional responsibilities to my system of ethics and my understanding of the science of infectious disease, immunology, and my promise to serve the American people. This step is necessary to ensure that I can contribute effectively in a capacity that allows me to remain true to my principles. The recent change in the adult and children’s immunization schedule threaten the lives of the youngest Americans and pregnant people. The data analyses that supported this decision have never been shared with CDC despite my respectful requests to HHS and other leadership. This lack of meaningful engagement was further compounded by a “frequently asked questions” document written to support the Secretary’s directive that was circulated by HHS without input from CDC subject matter experts and that cited studies that did not support the conclusions that were attributed to these authors. Having worked in local and national public health for years, I have never experienced such radical non-transparency, nor have I seen such unskilled manipulation of data to achieve a political end rather than the good of the American people. It is untenable to serve in an organization that is not afforded the opportunity to discuss decisions of scientific and public health importance released under the moniker of CDC. The lack of communication by HHS and other CDC political leadership that culminates in social media posts announcing major policy changes without prior notice demonstrate a disregard of normal communication channels and common sense. Having to retrofit analyses and policy actions to match inadequately thought-out announcements in poorly scripted videos or page long X posts should not be how organizations responsible for the health of people should function. Some examples include the announcement of the change in the COVID-19 recommendations for children and pregnant people, the firing of scientists from ACIP by X post and an op-ed rather than direct communication with these valuable experts, the announcement of new ACIP members by X before onboarding and vetting have completed, and the release of term of reference for an ACIP workgroup that ignored all feedback from career staff at CDC. Their desire to please a political base will result in death and disability of vulnerable children and adults. Their base should be the people they serve not a political voting bloc. I have always been first to challenge scientific and public health dogma in my career and was excited by the opportunity to do so again. I was optimistic that there would be an opportunity to brief the Secretary about key topics such as measles, avian influenza, and the highly coordinated approach to the respiratory virus season. Such briefings would allow exchange of ideas and a shared path to support the vision of “Making America Healthy Again.” We are seven months into the new administration, and no CDC subject matter expert from my Center has ever briefed the Secretary. I am not sure who the Secretary is listening to, but it is quite certainly not to us. Unvetted and conflicted outside organizations seem to be the sources HHS use over the gold standard science of CDC and other reputable sources. At a hearing, Secretary Kennedy said that Americans should not take medical advice from him. To the contrary, an appropriately briefed and inquisitive Secretary should be a source of health information for the people he serves. As it stands now, I must agree with him, that he should not be considered a source of accurate information. The intentional eroding of trust in low-risk vaccines favoring natural infection and unproven remedies will bring us to a pre-vaccine era where only the strong will survive and many if not all will suffer. I believe in nutrition and exercise. I believe in making our food supply healthier, and I also believe in using vaccines to prevent death and disability. Eugenics plays prominently in the rhetoric being generated and is derivative of a legacy that good medicine and science should continue to shun.The recent shooting at CDC is not why I am resigning. My grandfather, who I am named after, stood up to fascist forces in Greece and lost his life doing so. I am resigning to make him and his legacy proud. I am resigning because of the cowardice of a leader that cannot admit that HIS and his minions’ words over decades created an environment where violence like this can occur. I reject his and his colleagues’ thoughts and prayers, and advise they direct those to people that they have not actively harmed. For decades, I have been a trusted voice for the LGBTQ community when it comes to critical health topics. I must also cite the recklessness of the administration in their efforts to erase transgender populations, cease critical domestic and international HIV programming, and terminate key research to support equity as part of my decision. Public health is not merely about the health of the individual, but it is about the health of the community, the nation, the world. The nation’s health security is at risk and is in the hands of people focusing on ideological self-interest. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for the opportunities for growth, learning, and collaboration that I have been afforded during my time at the CDC. It has been a privilege to work alongside such dedicated professionals who are committed to improving the health and well-being of communities across the nation even when under attack from within both physically and psychologically. Thank you once again for the support and guidance I have received from you and previous CDC leadership throughout my tenure. I wish the CDC continued success in its vital mission and that HHS reverse its dangerous course to dismantle public health as a practice and as an institution. If they continue the current path, they risk our personal well-being and the security of the United States.
EmilyTav@emilytav.bsky.social · 12mo ago

Great piece in @fedscoop.bsky.social by @erie.bsky.social “… design is meaningless without trust. […] Americans will not want to use even the most elegant services if they don’t trust the government to protect their data.” fedscoop.com/america-by-d...

Design without privacy is just a cover-up: USDS co-founder's take on Trump's EO

A former government technologist lays out a blueprint for how the White House’s federal web design order could actually work.

fedscoop.com

Vanessa Williamson@vanessawilliamson.bsky.social · 12mo ago

"Trump Is Replacing Billy Long as I.R.S. Commissioner" says the NYT. That would mean **SIX** IRS commissioners since January. I'll have a new report up on leadership changes at IRS next week, but here's the summary as of May. www.lawfaremedia.org/article/what...

What’s Going on at the IRS?

Breaking down the reduction in tax workforce, DOGE’s attempts to access sensitive data, and the politicization and erosion of agency independence at the IRS

lawfaremedia.org

Merici@merici.bsky.social · 12mo ago

While Direct File accomplished a lot of things, it didn't change the institutions it touched. Yes, we proved excellent digital experiences are possible. Yes, we achieved satisfaction rates higher than Netflix. But we also learned that brilliant products alone don't change institutions.

Chris Given@cmgiven.bsky.social · last yr.

Drowned out by the furor over his Direct File comments, the IRS Commissioner also warned at the same event that he’s already behind schedule and expects a late start to filing season next year. That means delays in getting refunds out the door. www.journalofaccountancy.com/news/2025/ju...

New commissioner confident IRS can implement OBBBA's tax provisions

Commissioner Billy Long explained his management philosophy at the 2025 Tax Summit of the National Association of Enrolled Agents, where he said IRS employees will be able to implement the OBBBA’s tax...

journalofaccountancy.com

Chris Given@cmgiven.bsky.social · last yr.

Drowned out by the furor over his Direct File comments, the IRS Commissioner also warned at the same event that he’s already behind schedule and expects a late start to filing season next year. That means delays in getting refunds out the door. www.journalofaccountancy.com/news/2025/ju...

New commissioner confident IRS can implement OBBBA's tax provisions

Commissioner Billy Long explained his management philosophy at the 2025 Tax Summit of the National Association of Enrolled Agents, where he said IRS employees will be able to implement the OBBBA’s tax...

journalofaccountancy.com

Waldo Jaquith@waldo.net · last yr.

This is true of government software, too. It is not a coincidence that the beloved Direct File was largely built by federal FTEs.

David Roberts@volts.wtf · last yr.

... the countries that build public transit well, quickly, & cheaply all have something in common: most of the work is done by the government itself, using in-house expertise, rather than farming various parts out to private companies under the bullshit theory that private always = more efficient.