Early Government-Led Innovation
The national war effort during WWII led to the greatest gathering of scientific minds, culminating in the development of the Manhattan Project. One of the leaders of this group, Hungarian scientist John von Neumann, was a pioneer in early computing development. He contributed as one of the forefathers of artificial intelligence, laid out the foundation for CPUs, and mentored leading figures in the emerging field, such as Alan Turing. After the war, von Neumann helped advance the U.S. ballistic missile program, among other contributions, establishing a prototype for government investment in science and technology.
At the same time, Grace Hopper entered the Navy and soon participated in some of the most important technological achievements for the country. Funded in part by the Navy, she helped build ENIAC as well as develop the COBOL programming language, which is still in use today—notably, 60 million lines of it power the United States' Social Security database.
Importantly, much of this innovation was driven by acute constraints: the need for faster computation for military logistics, secure communications, and nuclear research. These limitations forced rapid advancement—an important lesson for today's technologists hoping to make impactful innovations.
Continued Government Leadership and the Development of GPS
As the 20th century continued, the U.S. government remained at the forefront of technological innovation, pioneering technologies such as GPS. Originally designed to meet military demands for precise navigation under any conditions, GPS arose from a clear constraint: the need to locate nuclear submarines without depending on surface-based navigation systems. Once the Cold War constraints loosened, the technology was made free and publicly available in the 1980s, eventually becoming indispensable to civilians worldwide.
This transition—from government-constrained necessity to widespread public benefit—stands in contrast to the modern era, where technologies like blockchain and AI first emerge in the private sector and only later raise questions about potential government adoption. This shift prompts a critical question: is the government lagging behind, or are many new technologies not as foundational as they appear?
The Obama Era: Modernizing Government Technology
A major development occurred in the early years of the Obama administration when he became the first president with a BlackBerry, symbolically signaling the age of personal computing in government. Under President Obama, modernizing the government through technology became a key priority.
He created the role of Chief Technology Officer of the United States to serve in the Office of Science and Technology Policy. Obama appointed Aneesh Chopra, who had led Virginia's efforts to use technology to improve government efficiency, to both advise the president on technology policy and to improve government effectiveness.
In 2014, President Obama established the United States Digital Service (USDS), which sought to improve government websites and technological services, acting as an internal consultant to agencies. The USDS built and rolled out a vaccine finder during the COVID-19 pandemic, modernized the VA website, helped DHS allow immigrants to apply and track applications online, and significantly improved the way the U.S. government purchases technology.
Additionally, initiatives like CIVIC—a government platform designed to help senators better understand their constituents—emerged from these efforts. CIVIC’s creation, which some of our own team helped build, stands as a testament to how government and technology communities can collaborate to bridge gaps in public understanding and responsiveness.
The Trump Administration and Beyond
During the 2024 presidential campaign, Donald Trump, along with major campaign supporter Elon Musk, sought to reshape the government's interaction with technology. On day one of his presidency, Trump renamed the USDS to the United States DOGE Service—the Department of Government Efficiency.
While this move initially appeared symbolic, it highlighted ongoing tensions about technology’s role in governance. Interestingly, during this period, while blockchain technology saw adoption abroad (e.g., El Salvador’s embrace of Bitcoin), the U.S. government remained largely skeptical, slow to integrate blockchain solutions into its own systems. The broader question persists: when will public-sector adoption catch up to private-sector innovation?
Conclusion: A Continuing Journey
From the wartime laboratories of the 1940s to the smartphones in every senator’s pocket, the U.S. government has played a key role in advancing technology. Yet the path forward will demand recognizing and responding to new constraints—whether security, scalability, or citizen engagement—that will shape the next era of innovation. Reflecting on this history offers both an inspiring and urgent reminder: when bold vision meets real need, government can once again lead technological revolutions.
