examining the ashes: on creative destruction
The current "gutting" of government institutions isn't a sudden collapse—it's the culmination of decades of technical debt, deferred modernization, and resistance to change. In this moment, I feel that we are in the throes of organizational destruction on a scale I haven’t seen in my lifetime, and it is painful. Yet within this apparent destruction lies unprecedented opportunity for renewal and transformation if we are engaged in the right work in the right places.
the writing on the wall
The signs have been visible for years. In 2023, Jennifer Pahlka’s "Recoding America" laid bare what many of us in government technology have long known: our institutional infrastructure is crumbling under the weight of outdated systems, processes, and mindsets. The report's stark assessment of government's technical capacity wasn't just a warning—it was a confirmation of systemic issues that have been building for decades. Public sentiment about government has suffered as a result.
But this moment of reckoning didn't emerge in isolation. From the U.S. Digital Service's creation in 2014 to the recent Defense Innovation Board's recommendations, we've seen a steady drumbeat of calls for fundamental transformation. Each initiative and report has highlighted the same core message: incremental change is insufficient for the challenges we face.
ai as a catalyst
The overwhelming amount of recent policy and legislation on Artificial Intelligence represents an acknowledgment that we've reached a turning point. Emphasis on modernizing government services through AI isn't just about technology adoption; it's about fundamental institutional transformation.
The DOGE order's requirements for agencies to designate Chief AI Officers and develop AI strategies might seem like standard bureaucratic responses. However, these mandates are forcing organizations to confront their technical debt and organizational limitations in ways that previous modernization efforts never did.
creative destruction and opportunity
What we're witnessing isn't just deterioration—it's creative destruction in action. As legacy systems and processes become increasingly untenable, we're seeing the emergence of new possibilities:
Institutional Reset
Opportunity to rebuild processes from the ground up
Chance to rethink organizational structures
Space to reimagine government service delivery
Talent Revolution
Growing recognition of technical leadership needs
Emergence of new roles and capabilities
Shift in what constitutes public sector expertise
Cultural Transformation
Movement from risk-aversion to responsible innovation
Evolution of decision-making processes
Development of learning organizations
building from the ashes
The path forward requires more than just technical solutions. We need to:
Embrace the Moment
Recognize this as an opportunity for fundamental change
Move beyond incremental improvements
Think systemically about transformation
Build New Foundations
Design for future capabilities, not just current needs
Create flexible, adaptable systems
Establish sustainable innovation practices
Invest in People
Develop technical leadership capabilities
Build cross-functional expertise
Create cultures of continuous learning
the road ahead
This moment of apparent institutional strain is actually our best opportunity for meaningful transformation. The confluence of:
Technical imperatives
Policy mandates
Organizational pressure
Public expectations
...creates a unique window for fundamental change.
looking forward
As we examine the ashes of legacy systems and processes, we can see the outline of something new emerging—a government infrastructure built for the age of AI, ready to serve citizens in ways we're only beginning to imagine.
The question isn't whether government will transform—it's whether we'll shape that transformation intentionally and thoughtfully, or let it happen to us. The choice, and the opportunity, is ours.
