Government service delivery needs standard definitions, former government tech leaders say
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ByChristian Robles,
Technology Reporter, Nextgov/FCW
July 27, 2026 11:00 AM ET
A patchwork of technical definitions mean Americans are missing out on benefits and agencies face an additional administrative burden, a new paper from Democratic think tank Searchlight Institute says.
Tech Viaduct, a group of technologists and public servants drafting a day one playbook for the next administration, is urging Congress to standardize the definition of common terms — such as disability, homelessness and income — to make government service delivery more efficient.
“Simplifying definitions is necessary and the sensible first step to making technological solutions possible. The next administration should come prepared with legislation that would simplify the laws governing the safety net,” the Tech Viaduct paper reads.
With standard definitions, creating software that can serve as a single front door for government benefits becomes possible, Arabella Crawford, a former U.S. Digital...
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