Delieverign Great digital Government in the Trump Era

[Commentary] As we transition to the Trump administration, some experts are forecasting an uncertain future for federal digital services. Spending projections on citizen engagement technologies appear flat at best, cyber concerns surround the launch of every new digital initiative, and early predictions indicate the new administration will likely pursue a buy vs. build approach.

Despite these challenges, the bottom line is that citizen service demands and expectations are on the rise. The average American will be about 38 years old midway through President-elect Donald Trump’s 4-year term, which means federal agencies will be delivering services to digital experts—people who have used the internet since middle school. Faxing forms might as well be a foreign language to these folks. So how can agencies transform how digital services are delivered and meet the rising and constantly changing expectations of citizens in this new climate?

[Angela Fultz Nordstrom is vice president of NIC Inc.]