Welcome to the Fed Mission Success News Round Up brought to you by Makpar. Each week, we will provide a summary of actionable news and insights to help aid in overall mission success for Federal agency IT decision-makers and influencers.

IRS Seeks Public Feedback on Tax Return Options After Dismantling Direct File

The IRS is asking the public to weigh in on tax preparation and filing options as it officially closes the door on Direct File, the free electronic filing tool that earned sky-high consumer experience ratings but was shuttered by the Trump administration, according to NextGov.

Executive Order: Improving Our Nation Through Better Design

On August 21st, President Trump signed an Executive Order to launch the “America by Design” initiative, establishing the National Design Studio to enhance the usability and aesthetics of Federal digital and physical services, according to this White House factsheet.

Here Are the Agency Officials Leading AI Deployment Under Trump

The requirement for agencies to designate a chief AI officer is among the policies that the Trump administration has carried over from its predecessor, and here are the agency officials who are leading this charge, according to FedScoop.

Transportation Launches Administrative Consolidation Effort

Last week, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told employees in an email that the department is launching a consolidation initiative, dubbed 1DoT, to “streamline our processes, consolidate administrative functions and modernize our infrastructure to better serve the American public,” according to NextGov.

NIH CIO Adele Merritt Departs for DoD-Affiliated Research Role

Adele Merritt, who took over as NIH’s chief information officer and director of the NIH Office of the Chief Information Officer on Dec. 16, departed her role, and will be the new chief researcher at University of Maryland’s Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security, according to FedScoop.