Protecting Digital Government and Ensuring Critical Services for All

Statement from Lynn Overmann, Executive Director at the Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation at Georgetown University: 

The actions taken by the Trump administration over the past two weeks—including the proposed federal funding freeze, the removal of important government websites and public data, the granting of access to highly sensitive data and systems, and the closure of agencies, offices, and initiatives—threaten to undermine the core operations and critical services that millions of people rely on daily. These actions jeopardize the well-being of children, veterans, families, and communities who depend on government programs as lifelines that provide stability, security, and opportunity. 

Transparent, accessible information is the cornerstone of an accountable democracy—it helps the public understand government programs, navigate services, and make informed decisions. The removal of government websites and essential public data by the administration is alarming, dangerous, and prevents transparency. These actions weaken public trust and make it harder for people to access government programs, for researchers to assess their impact, and for the public to understand how their tax dollars are being used. 

Government is more than data and systems; it cannot work without a dedicated, skilled workforce committed to serving the public. Public servants are central to the functions and operations of government at all levels, and their expertise cannot be outsourced. 

 At the Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation, we work with governments at all levels—federal, state, local, territorial, and tribal—to deliver digital benefits and services that are accessible, secure, resilient, and meet the needs and expectations of the people who use them. We remain steadfast in our commitment to supporting governments and public servants as they work to create a future rooted in opportunity and economic mobility for everyone. 

Have resources you’d like to preserve or archive? I encourage you to submit them to the Beeck Center’s Digital Government Hub—an open-source library designed to build community and assist those using design, data, and technology to improve government service delivery.