President Donald Trump's administration may be walking into a fresh competence scandal as ex-staffers from the Department of Government Efficiency appear to be running the show again, according to a new analysis.
The Washington Sun revealed Thursday that officials are quietly developing an "AI-driven government website" called America.gov, meant to serve as a one-stop shop for federal services, including free passport renewals and free tax filing.
Six current and former officials told the Sun that a multi-agency launch is tentatively targeted for the end of September, though the timing could slip.
The project is being led by Joe Gebbia, the Airbnb co-founder and former DOGE official who now runs the White House's National Design Studio, according to the report. Also involved is Edward Coristine, the ex-DOGE operative better known by his online handle "Big Balls."
Officials are reportedly "weighing whether to resurrect Direct File," the free tax-filing tool that President Joe Biden's administration launched — and that Trump's own administration killed just last year. The Sun reports that decision could be reversed, in altered form, as part of the new site.
"Some Trump administration officials hope the initiative could give the Republican Party a selling point in the upcoming midterm elections," the Sun reported. "But an uneven rollout could backfire and underscore Americans’ fears about the administration’s competency."
Critics are already skeptical of the about-face on tax filing, according to the report.
"This program did exist, it was overwhelmingly popular and successful, and then it was killed by Elon Musk and Donald Trump," Liz Pancotti of the Groundwork Collaborative told the Sun. "Why all of a sudden would their tune change?"
Merici Vinton of the Center for American Progress said rebuilding public trust after killing the original program would take "careful work." The effort has not been previously reported, and the administration has not publicly confirmed America.gov's existence.
