Theme 3

Progress update:
The Administration and Federal agencies remain committed to driving Life Experiences and projects forward to reach the milestones and deliverables that build towards target outcomes for the American public.

At the end of FY23, the Office of Management and Budget published new content from the Life Experiences and projects.

The content updates include revised language and structure to the Design phase project measures section to outline project measures, approaches, and status.

Evidence: Life experiences and projects | Project milestones

The Federal government remains committed to transforming customer experience and service delivery. Associated efforts are updated on quarterly at Performance.gov CX.

In March 2023, the Administration shared a point-by-point update on each of the individual agency commitments in Section 4 of the EO.

Further, in January 2023, the Administration shared the results of all 5 Life Experience Discovery sprints, culminating in the announcement of nine projects based in priority customer pain points in March 2023. Read the fact sheet, Biden-⁠Harris Administration Launches Nine Life Experience Projects to Streamline Service Delivery for the American People.

Most recently, in June 2023, the Administration shared milestones and deliverables for each of the nine projects, as well as two additional projects.

Progress update:
The federal government remains committed to transforming customer experience and service delivery, and tracking associated progress at Performance.gov CX.

For more information on specific individual high impact service provider work and progress, learn more at Performance.gov High Impact Service Providers.

Since the release of NAP 5, the team has created new “trust” dashboards for all high impact service providers, accessible via the links below; these dashboards (to be updated quarterly) provide insight into each HISP’s progress on Performance.gov Trust in Major Government and Performance.gov Data.

Evidence: Performance.gov High Impact Service Providers | Performance.gov Trust in Major Government | Performance.gov Data

The federal government remains committed to transforming customer experience and service delivery and tracks associated progress at Performance.gov CX. For specific individual high impact service provider progress, you can learn more at Performance.gov High Impact Service Providers.

Since the release of NAP 5, the team has created a new “trust” dashboard for all high impact service providers.

This dashboard will be updated quarterly.

Progress update:
In December of 2023, a Subcommittee of the National Science and Technology Council released a report outlining areas where further work by agencies and academic researchers could improve benefit-cost analysis. That report specifically noted areas of further research related to reducing administrative burden that would improve agency analysis in this space.

In January 2024, OMB released a call for information on agencies’ efforts to support Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) goals, including accomplishments and planned initiatives to reduce burden on the program. This data call for the FY 2023 Information Collection Budget will form the basis for this year’s report on agency efforts to reduce administrative burdens.

OMB has also continued to review paperwork requests under the Paperwork Reduction Act with an eye towards reducing administrative burdens.

Evidence: Report on Advancing the Frontiers of Benefit-Cost Analysis [PDF] | Data call for 2023 ICB [PDF]

During the NAP 5 publishing period (December 2022), OMB released a memo providing strategies for reducing administrative burden in public benefit and service programs [PDF] . The memo contains examples of progress made in reducing burden to the public in programs like the Emergency Rental Assistance program and Unemployment Insurance Navigator program.

In May 2023, OMB released a memo with a call for information on agencies’ efforts to support Paperwork Reduction Act goals [PDF], including accomplishments and planned initiatives to reduce burden on the program.

In July 2023, OMB released a report summarizing progress implementing the burden reduction initiative [PDF].

Progress update:
IRS modernization efforts have put reducing administrative burden at the forefront, including through the development of the Direct File pilot (a free, voluntary IRS-run electronic filing system) and its efforts to digitize a wide range of IRS forms.

USDA announced in January that most farm loan borrowers will be able to make payments to their direct loans online through the Pay My Loan feature on farmers.gov.

Evidence: IRS Direct File pilot | IRS paperless processing initiative | Announcement that farm loan borrowers can make payments online

On July 10th, 2023, the Administration released a report summarizing the progress across the Federal government to identify and reduce burdens that individuals, families, and small businesses face every day when interacting with government programs. This new report provides concrete actions agencies have taken, such as:

• The Department of Homeland Security’s efforts to proactively reduce burden on individuals using mobile drivers’ licenses as identification when flying.
• The Social Security Administration’s efforts to simplify and streamline recertification of disability status (also known as Continuing Disability Review).
• The Internal Revenue Service’s efforts to improve IRS technology and deliver a modernized taxpayer experience by exploring new services, such as a free, voluntary IRS-run electronic filing system (also called Direct File).

Other examples can be found in the burden reduction full report [PDF].

Progress update:
In CY 2023, the Legal Aid Interagency Roundtable dedicated its work to Access to Justice in Federal Administrative Proceedings. The final report by LAIR examines the challenges that people face in accessing federal administrative proceedings, which are crucial for obtaining public benefits and rights, and proposes two strategies to improve them: simplifying the forms, processes, and language of the proceedings, and increasing the availability of legal assistance by lawyers and nonlawyers. The report includes numerous strategies and initiatives agencies have committed to in response to the report. OMB continues to participate in LAIR, including attending a January 2024 Access to Justice Research and Federal Agencies Workshop focused on expanding collaboration between researchers, data scientists, and the access to justice policy community.

During the interagency regulatory review of a proposed Social Security Administration regulation, OMB hosted a meeting with stakeholders where stakeholders identified additional ways in which the agency could simplify a set of highly-complex payment rules for low-income, disabled individuals who receive Supplemental Security Income and live with friends or family. In August and September, 2023, SSA published proposed rules which specifically highlight the agency’s objective of reducing administrative burdens on both beneficiaries and agency personnel while improving the overall administration of the SSI program.

Through separate listening sessions hosted as a part of SSA’s commitments in the 2022 Legal Aid Interagency Roundtable Report, SSA hosted two listening sessions (attended by OMB) with legal aid providers to understand additional burdens facing stakeholders and beneficiaries. Among the topics at these sessions were the burdens associated with SSA’s requirement to report on 15 years’ worth of work history for new disability beneficiary applicants and the burdens associated with navigating the overpayment waiver and recovery process. In September 2023 SSA published a proposed rule to reduce the work history reporting requirements to five years. In the fall of 2023 SSA also released a simplified version of the overpayment waiver form and has committed to additional burden reduction initiatives related to overpayment recovery and waivers.

Evidence:

• Access to Justice in Federal Administrative Proceedings [PDF] 
• Aug 23, 2023 SSA published proposed rules about expansion of the rental subsidy policy for SSI applicants and recipients
• Sept 29, 2023 SSA published proposed rules to expand the definition of a public-assistance household
• Legal Aid Interagency Roundtable 2022 Report [PDF] (page 54)
• Sept 29, 2023 SSA published proposed rules for intermediate improvement to the disability adjudication process, including how we consider past work.
• Oct 4, 2023 Press Release: Social Security Acting Commissioner Kilolo Kijakazi Directs Review of Overpayment Procedures and Policies

During the NAP 5 publishing period (December 2022), the Legal Aid Interagency Roundtable convened to discuss strategies and next steps related to burden reduction for the public [PDF]. Results, and examples of progress and initiatives slated for future development are noted throughout the report.

Additionally, the Open Government Working Group is hosting a public engagement session in 2023 where high-priority programs can be identified by civil society stakeholders.

Progress Update:
OMB continues to support agencies on the implementation of the second Equity Executive Order (Executive Order 14091), which further instituted process and accountability for agency equity work.

Progress related to the implementation of equity action plans can be found at https://www.performance.gov/equity.

Additionally, the White House released a report in February 2024 detailing implementation of the equity action plans. That report can be found here: https://whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/White-House-Equity-Action-Plan-Progress-Report.pdf.

Lastly, OMB continues to post all equity action plans and equity-related guidance at https://www.performance.gov/equity.

Evidence:

Feb 14 2024 FACT SHEET: Biden-⁠Harris Administration Releases Annual Agency Equity Action Plans to Further Advance Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government - https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/02/14/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-releases-annual-agency-equity-action-plans-to-further-advance-racial-equity-and-support-for-underserved-communities-through-the-federal-government

Feb 2024 The White House Equity Action Plan Progress Report - https://whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/White-House-Equity-Action-Plan-Progress-Report.pdf

Advancing Equity in the Federal Government - https://www.whitehouse.gov/equity

Advancing an Equitable Government - https://www.performance.gov/equity

The Office of Management and Budget continues to support agencies on the implementation of the now second Equity Executive Order, which further institutes process and accountability for agency equity work. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2023/02/16/executive-order-on-further-advancing-racial-equity-and-support-for-underserved-communities-through-the-federal-government/

The FY24 President’s Budget included proposals for equity-advancing efforts based in agency equity action plans: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/03/09/fact-sheet-president-bidens-budget-advances-equity/.

Progress update:

The GSA Technology Transformation Services met with relevant stakeholders internal and external to government as input into a possible pilot to develop a challenge and prize competition that will engage diverse and inclusive public participation to better define and imagine emerging challenges, opportunities, and possibilities.

Evidence:

None.

Progress update:

The GSA Technology Transformation Services met with relevant stakeholders internal and external to government as input into a possible pilot to develop a challenge and prize competition that will engage diverse and inclusive public participation to better define and imagine emerging challenges, opportunities, and possibilities.

Evidence:

None.

GSA has begun research and engagement with experts who have background in speculative fiction and scenario planning initiatives for public benefit. The structure and design of the challenge are in early stages of development and GSA is working toward broader outreach to potential partners and stakeholders.

A feedback form was provided on the website for this commitment so interested parties could express their interest, provide feedback, and be notified of major developments.

A general overview of the commitment and a tentative schedule was discussed during the July 12th engagement session.