President Donald Trump’s directive to rapidly modernize all US government websites using AI-driven redesigns has encountered significant obstacles, including delayed progress, agency pushback, and critiques over accessibility and site functionality.
- National Design Studio created to overhaul 27,000 government websites
- AI-centric redesigns face criticism and accessibility concerns
- Most agencies reluctant to adopt new web standards
What happened
In August 2025, President Donald Trump established the National Design Studio (NDS) with the goal of updating and redesigning every US government website under the "America by Design" initiative. The plan aimed to modernize 27,000 .gov sites within three years by updating the US Web Design System (USWDS) standards and leveraging artificial intelligence to accelerate the redesign process. However, a year later, progress remains limited and uneven.
The NDS team has launched only a handful of websites, most of which are single pages offering basic functionality like sign-up forms or drug price search tools. Several new domains redirect users to legacy government websites, which remain the primary access points for most online government services. The studio’s efforts have been hampered by restructuring within the government’s digital units and widespread agency reluctance to integrate the new design standards.
Why it matters
Updating government websites is widely recognized as an important and overdue effort to improve usability, accessibility, and mobile-friendliness. The USWDS, created in 2015, laid the foundation for consistent and accessible government web experiences, but widespread adoption remained limited even years later. The dismantling of key digital services teams and under-resourcing under Trump’s administration has complicated efforts to achieve meaningful progress.
Excessive reliance on AI without rigorous testing has drawn criticism from design experts, who warn that some new sites fail to meet the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. This raises concerns about the inclusiveness and legal compliance of government digital services. Meanwhile, overstated claims of NDS achievements undermine confidence in the initiative’s direction and results.
What to watch next
The effectiveness of the National Design Studio hinges on increased cooperation from federal agencies willing to embrace new standards and improved AI implementation processes that prioritize accessibility and user experience. Monitoring how many additional government websites adopt updated design standards will be crucial to assessing whether the initiative can regain momentum.
Further scrutiny is expected over how AI is utilized in redesign efforts and whether the government addresses concerns about ADA compliance. Observers will also watch for any strategic shifts or leadership changes aiming to restore confidence and improve outcomes after this stalled start to a major digital government overhaul.