President Donald Trump has appointed Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia as the nation’s first Chief Design Officer to lead a sweeping overhaul of federal digital services, according to Reuters.
The newly established National Design Studio, created through an executive order signed on Thursday, will target approximately 26,000 federal web portals as part of Trump’s “America by Design” initiative.
Newsweek reached out to the White House via email on Saturday for comment.
Why It Matters
Gebbia’s appointment carries additional significance given his previous involvement with Elon Musk‘s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
In February, the billionaire entrepreneur reportedly joined Musk’s cost-cutting initiative, leveraging his deep ties to Tesla where he serves as a board member. His background in disruptive business models at Airbnb aligned with Musk’s vision of streamlining federal operations through aggressive efficiency measures.
However, Musk officially departed from the White House in May following a tumultuous relationship with Trump, making Gebbia’s new role a potential successor to the controversial DOGE approach with a more focused mandate on design and user experience.
This initiative represents the most ambitious attempt to modernize government digital services in decades, potentially affecting millions of Americans who interact with federal websites daily for Social Security benefits, tax filing, veteran services, and other essential government functions. The three-year, government-wide redesign effort could fundamentally change how citizens access federal services while potentially saving taxpayers millions in duplicative design costs.
What To Know
The National Design Studio will operate within the White House Office of the Executive Office of the President, with Gebbia serving as Chief Design Officer under an administrator who reports to the White House Chief of Staff. The executive order mandates that agency heads consult with Gebbia to produce “initial results by July 4, 2026,” prioritizing websites and physical locations that significantly impact Americans’ daily lives.
Many current federal websites were designed by lowest-cost bidders and haven’t been substantially updated in years, creating frustrating user experiences that cost Americans time and the government money in maintenance. The initiative aims to implement standardized design principles across agencies, reducing duplicative costs while improving both usability and aesthetics.
Gebbia, who previously led efforts to revamp federal retirement processes, will focus initially on Internal Revenue Service (IRS) improvements, according to government officials. The Chief Design Officer is tasked with recruiting top design talent from the private sector and consulting with research firms and thought leaders to implement best practices.
The executive order specifically requires agencies to comply with the 21st Century Integrated Digital Experience Act and directs the Administrator of General Services to update the United States Web Design System. The temporary organization will terminate after three years, though other provisions of the order remain in effect.
Gebbia’s political evolution adds another layer to his appointment. After supporting Democratic candidates in previous elections, he announced on social media that he voted Republican in the 2024 election, marking a significant political shift that aligns with his new government role.
Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images
What People Are Saying
Joe Gebbia announced his appointment on X: “My directive is to update today’s government services to be as satisfying to use as the Apple Store: beautifully designed, great user experience, run on modern software. An experience that projects a level of excellence for our nation and makes life less complicated for everyday Americans.”
He added: “I’d like to thank President Trump and his administration for creating this vision and supporting America by Design (@americabydesign). I will do my best to make the U.S. the most beautiful, and useable, country in the digital world.”
“If you’re interested in joining me at the newly established National Design Studio (@NDStudio) on this ambitious mandate, please reach out with a link to your work. Thank you for your attention to the details.”
President Donald Trump’s Executive Order reads in part: “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.”
White House Official David Sacks said on X after the announcement: “Congrats to Joe Gebbia on becoming the first Chief Design Officer of the United States. In this newly created role, Joe will oversee the redesign of roughly 26,000 federal web portals, many of which are obsolete, so they better serve social security recipients, veterans, and all citizens.
What Happens Next?
The National Design Studio will begin immediate assessment of current federal websites, prioritizing high-traffic portals like IRS systems and Social Security services.
Agency heads must begin consulting with Gebbia to develop implementation plans, with the July 4, 2026, deadline creating pressure for rapid deployment.