A White House office, the National Design Studio (NDS), staffed largely by veterans of Elon Musk’s “department of government efficiency” (Doge), has been rebuilding sensitive federal websites, including those for passport applications, voter registration, and prescription drug pricing. Critics argue these actions may violate federal law, particularly concerning privacy and transparency. The NDS has also reportedly developed or redeveloped White House-controlled versions of services legally assigned to other agencies, such as a passport application portal and a copy of the voter registration site vote.gov, bypassing established accountability systems. Furthermore, the studio’s websites have employed commercial visitor-tracking software configured to evade privacy tools, and its spending and vendor arrangements are not publicly disclosed.
Read More
This website is an official United States government domain, indicated by its “.gov” address. Such domains are exclusively used by federal, state, local, and tribal government entities. The presence of “.gov” assures users that the information originates from a legitimate government source, distinguishing it from other internet domains. Therefore, when encountering a “.gov” website, citizens can trust the content as originating from an official governmental authority.
Read More
A recent court settlement mandates the US government to restore numerous webpages focusing on gender identity, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) that were removed from government websites. This order stems from a lawsuit initiated by nine medical organizations and public health nonprofits following a Trump administration executive order directing the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to remove crucial information. The settlement requires the government to restore the data and cease further deletions of resources, with the Washington State Medical Association expressing satisfaction with the outcome. The HHS, however, maintains its commitment to removing what it considers radical gender and DEI ideology from federal programs.
Read More
John Q. Hosedrinker