Improving Our Nation Through Better Design
President Trump signed an executive order establishing "America by Design," a national initiative to significantly improve the design and usability of federal services.
This initiative creates a National Design Studio within the White House, headed by a new Chief Design Officer.
The initiative aims to modernize the visual presentation and user experience of both digital and physical government services, resulting in cost savings, improved public trust and increased efficiency for citizens interacting with their government.
Agencies will provide initial results by July 4, 2026.
Arguments For
Improved User Experience: The initiative aims to make government services more user-friendly and accessible for all Americans, leading to increased efficiency and satisfaction.
Cost Savings: Consolidating design efforts and standardizing design language can reduce redundant spending on government websites and physical spaces.
Increased Public Trust: A more consistent and visually appealing government presence can foster greater public trust and confidence in government agencies.
Enhanced Efficiency: Streamlining the design of government services can reduce the time and effort required for citizens to interact with government, boosting overall efficiency.
Modernization of Government: This initiative updates government design to reflect current best practices and enhance the accessibility of services. This moves it into the digital age.
Recruitment of Top Talent: The creation of the National Design Studio and the hiring of the Chief Design Officer will bring in top design experts, raising the level of overall quality across the board.
Arguments Against
Implementation Challenges: Coordinating design efforts across numerous agencies could prove difficult and time-consuming.
Cost Overruns: The initial investment in establishing the National Design Studio and hiring personnel could potentially exceed projected budgets.
Potential for Bureaucracy: The creation of a new agency could introduce additional bureaucratic layers, potentially slowing down the implementation of existing initiatives.
Lack of Measurable Outcomes: Without clear metrics to define success, it might be difficult to assess the effectiveness of the initiative after several years.
Focus on Aesthetics over Functionality: An overemphasis on visual appeal could overshadow the importance of ensuring actual usability and accessibility of government services.
Resistance from Agencies: Existing agencies may resist changes to their established processes and designs.
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:
Section 1. Purpose and Policy. America has long led the world in innovation, technological advancement, and design. But with a sprawling ecosystem of digital services offered to Americans, the Government has lagged behind in usability and aesthetics. There is a high financial cost to maintaining legacy systems, to say nothing of the cost in time lost by the American public trying to navigate them. It is time to fill the digital potholes across our Nation.
With this order, I am announcing “America by Design,” a national initiative to improve experiences for Americans, starting by breathing new life into the design of sites where people interface with their Government. It is time to update the Government’s design language to be both usable and beautiful. This effort will be facilitated by a new National Design Studio and by a new Chief Design Officer. The Chief Design Officer will help recruit top creative talent, coordinate with executive departments and agencies (agencies), and devise innovative solutions.
It is the policy of my Administration to deliver digital and physical experiences that are both beautiful and efficient, improving the quality of life for our Nation. Towards that end, the National Design Studio will advise agencies on how to reduce duplicative design costs, use standardized design to enhance the public’s trust in high-impact service providers, and dramatically improve the quality of experiences offered to the American public.
This section outlines the executive order's purpose and policy.
It states that the US government has fallen behind in designing usable and aesthetically pleasing digital services.
The order launches "America by Design," a national initiative to address this, using a new National Design Studio and Chief Design Officer to improve design across government services.
The goal is to create both beautiful and efficient digital and physical experiences for Americans.
Sec. 2. Establishing America by Design and the National Design Studio. (a) There is established a national initiative, America by Design, to improve comprehensively the visual presentation and usability of Federal services provided to the public in both digital and physical spaces, creating first-class online and offline experiences for Americans.
(b) To help facilitate the America by Design initiative, there is established within the White House Office of the Executive Office of the President the National Design Studio (NDS) and, within the NDS, a new position entitled the Chief Design Officer. The NDS shall be led by an Administrator, who shall report to the Office of the White House Chief of Staff. There is further established within the NDS, in accordance with section 3161 of title 5, United States Code, a temporary organization headed by the NDS Administrator and dedicated to helping advance the America by Design initiative. The temporary organization shall terminate 3 years from the date of this order, but that termination shall not be interpreted to imply the termination, attenuation, or amendment of any other authority or provision of this order.
This section formally establishes "America by Design" as a national initiative to improve the look and usability of federal services.
It also creates the National Design Studio (NDS) within the White House, including a new Chief Design Officer position.
The NDS will be led by an administrator reporting to the White House Chief of Staff, and a temporary organization to support this new initiative will also be set up, with a planned termination in 3 years.
The broader initiative will continue beyond the term of that temporary organization.
Sec. 3. Implementing America by Design. (a) Heads of agencies shall consult with the Chief Design Officer to implement the America by Design initiative at their respective agencies and shall produce initial results by July 4, 2026.
(i) Heads of agencies shall prioritize improving websites and physical sites that have a major impact on Americans’ everyday lives.
(ii) The Administrator of General Services shall consult with the Chief Design Officer to update the United States Web Design System consistent with the policies set forth in this order.
(iii) Heads of agencies shall consult with the Chief Design Officer to ensure Government-wide compliance with the 21st Century Integrated Digital Experience Act, Public Law 115-336.
(b) The Chief Design Officer shall consult with thought leaders and research and design firms on how best to implement the America by Design initiative. In order to employ the most talented designers of our generation to serve their country, the Chief Design Officer shall help recruit designers and other experts from the private sector as well as other sources of expertise. Heads of agencies shall use all relevant hiring authorities to facilitate this effort, including title IV of the Intergovernmental Personnel Act of 1970, Public Law 91-648, 5 U.S.C. 3371 et seq.
(c) The Chief Design Officer shall consult with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, as appropriate, in carrying out his or her obligations under this order.
This section details the implementation of "America by Design." Agency heads must consult with the Chief Design Officer to implement the initiative and show progress by July 4, 2026, prioritizing high-impact websites and facilities.
The Administrator of General Services will update the US Web Design System.
The Chief Design Officer will consult with experts and recruit talent to implement the initiative, coordinating with the Office of Management and Budget as needed.
Agencies are instructed to use existing hiring authorities to facilitate the recruitment of design experts.
Sec. 4. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
DONALD J. TRUMP
THE WHITE HOUSE,
August 21, 2025.
This section contains general provisions.
It clarifies that the order does not diminish the authority of existing agencies or the Office of Management and Budget.
Implementation will comply with existing laws and budget availability.
Finally, the order does not create any new legal rights.