The AI Policy Podcast Jennifer Pahlka on Reforming Government for the AI Era
12 snips
Feb 5, 2026 
Jennifer Pahlka, founder of Code for America and former U.S. Deputy CTO, champions modernizing government tech and policy. She traces Gov2.0 roots and the rise of U.S. Digital Service. Conversation covers upstream reform, how AI can help public servants question entrenched rules, using LLMs to audit and simplify regulations, HR and procurement fixes, and concrete AI use cases for government work.
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From Web 2.0 To USDS
- Jennifer Pahlka recounts moving from running Web 2.0 conferences to founding Code for America and helping start the U.S. Digital Service.
- She describes healthcare.gov as an early crisis that shaped USDS's mission to fix government technology and culture.
Capacity Alone Won't Fix Government
- Pahlka argues hiring technologists is necessary but insufficient for government reform.
- She urges moving upstream to change procurement, funding, and operating models that stem from an industrial-era mindset.
Basic Bottlenecks Cripple Talent
- Pahlka and Gregory Allen share examples of basic operational failures like staff without computers or delayed CAC badges blocking work.
- These anecdotes show how small process bottlenecks can cripple high-value talent and missions.
