One Tab for the Government?
How many tabs should it take to get one thing done with the government? A question about a passport can lead to another agency’s website, another login, and another set of instructions.
The White House says Americans spend about 10 billion hours each year dealing with federal paperwork. On September 29, President Donald Trump launched America.gov, an online entry point intended to make federal information and services easier to find.
For now, users can ask questions on the site and receive up-to-date answers, according to the White House. Passport renewal and Medicare enrollment are planned for later this year. Those transactions are not yet available through the new portal.
An executive order directs agencies to connect eligible services to America.gov and integrate the existing Login.gov sign-in system. The target is an online federal service used by more than 100,000 people within 12 months. IRS tax filing and services from defense and intelligence agencies are excluded.
The order says agencies will keep control of their records and decisions. It calls for privacy protections and says people must still be able to use existing channels, including agency websites, telephone, mail, and in-person services.
The White House describes the site as more than a directory of links: the goal is to let people ask in plain language and, where permitted and technically possible, finish a task without visiting several agency websites.
That promise will be tested as more services are connected. For someone facing a wall of open tabs, the question is simple: will one window eventually be enough?
— Charles J. B
