Beeck Center Networks 2025 Year in Review
Recapping the work and achievements of the Digital Benefits Network (DBN), Digital Service Network (DSN), and the State Chief Data Officers Network (CDO) in 2025.
The Digital Benefits Network (DBN), Digital Service Network (DSN), and State Chief Data Officers Network (CDO) at Georgetown University’s Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation, support governments so all people have equitable access to easy-to-use, responsive government services.
In 2025, the DBN, DSN, and CDO built and sustained communities, advanced capacity-building in the ecosystem, and produced timely research and publications. This Year in Review publication showcases the work from 2025, and previews our work in 2026—including an exciting announcement about the Beeck Center’s continued focus on building networks and communities that support government practitioners leading the way in digital service delivery.
Community
Community is a central component of all of the work we do. By convening practitioners and listening to their needs, we’re able to respond with actionable research and activities, while supporting cross-jurisdictional connections and collaboration. Our communities of practice (CoPs) represent thoughts and perspectives from across the civic tech landscape. We convened three government-only communities (Chief Digital Service Officers, State Chief Data Officers, and User Experience Research CoPs) and two cross-sector communities (Digital Identity and Rules as Code CoPs).
In 2025, we gathered 880 practitioners from the state, local, and federal level to share, connect, and learn from one another.
Our CoPs provided a valuable space where practitioners learned, connected, and shared.
- Chief Digital Service Officer Community of Practice (CDSO CoP): Growing by 20%, the space proved to be valuable as members navigated federal changes, with 3 off-cycle calls to meet the moment, as well as a special design system huddle coinciding with the publication of the scan of the design system.
- Digital Identity Community of Practice (DI CoP): Quickly growing to 187 members after launching, the CoP covered a wide range of topics from mobile driver’s licenses to user feedback to safety and security.
- Rules as Code Community of Practice (RaC CoP): An exchange in the community surfaced questions amongst those working with integrated eligibility and enrollment systems grappled with, ultimately leading to a new research report.
- User Experience Research Community of Practice (UX CoP): Responding to members’ needs, the CoP held monthly conversations about digital accessibility, artificial intelligence (AI), culture change, and research methods.
In its second year, the Digital Benefits Leadership Council served as a critical space for leaders working on digital benefits to learn from each other and rapidly respond to a changing landscape, including the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1) and disruptions to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) during the 2025 government shutdown.
The State Chief Data Officers (CDO) Network supported 57 data leaders—including CDOs, deputy CDOs, and enterprise data leaders—in advancing data management initiatives across states. This included hosting experts who provided actionable insights in implementing effective data practices— collaborating with CDOs to identify high-priority data governance topics, working with legal partners to provide guidance on responsible data sharing, and elevating the importance of the CDO role through the publication of op-eds and spotlight publications.
We’re grateful for those who trust us with their time and energy, and we look forward to continuing to convene and engage with practitioners in 2026.
Explore our Communities of Practice
Interested in joining one of our communities of practice? Explore our community spaces and express interest in those that align with your needs.
Research & Publications
Our research priorities are informed by our communities of practice and current ecosystem needs. Research enables people-first service design by prioritizing topics that have implications across public benefits programs, and can increase the capability and capacity of digital service and data teams. We feature our research in the open-source library Digital Government Hub, alongside practical examples, to allow any government practitioner to use the knowledge to improve digital service delivery.
Over the past year, our research focused on topics actively surfaced by our community, remained anchored to current events, and illustrated that solutions can be tailored to fit different contexts.
Featured Research
The State of State Digital Transformation: This interactive map gives public servants, policymakers, practitioners, and researchers a faster, clearer way to glean insights from our research on the policies, teams, tools, and tactics shaping state digital transformation.
Digital Doorways to Public Benefits: Beneficiary Experiences with Digital Identity: Led by the Digital Benefits Network in partnership with Public Policy Lab, the Digital Doorways research project amplifies the lived experiences of beneficiaries to provide new, actionable insights into people’s experiences with digital identity processes and technology in public benefits.
The 2025 State Chief Data Officer Survey: Insights From The Field: A nationwide survey that captures how state chief data officers are structured, resourced, and operating, and how the role is evolving to support data-driven government.
Other Notable Publications
Hiring, Retaining, and Upskilling Digital Service Talent in Government: Stories and Strategies from State and Local Leaders
This publication from the Digital Service Network (DSN) explores how state and local leaders are tackling the challenge of finding, keeping, and growing digital service talent in government. Through real-world stories and actionable strategies, it highlights how teams are making the case for digital roles, improving hiring practices, and upskilling staff to build a strong, sustainable digital workforce.
AI-Powered Rules as Code: Experiments with Public Benefits Policy
This report documents four experiments exploring if AI can be used to expedite the translation of SNAP and Medicaid policies into software code for implementation in public benefits eligibility and enrollment systems under a Rules as Code approach.
Implementing Benefits Eligibility + Enrollment Systems: State Responses to H.R. 1
This report summarizes insights from interviews with seven states on how they are adapting integrated eligibility and enrollment (IEE) systems in response to sweeping federal changes to SNAP and Medicaid under H.R. 1.
Implementing Benefits Eligibility + Enrollment Systems: Key Context
This publication explains the fundamentals of state IEE systems—including the technology, opportunities, risks, and stakeholders involved. It is a resource for state officials, advocates, funders, and tech partners working to implement these systems.
In 2026, we will continue and advance our high-quality and responsive research.
Capacity Building
We continued our robust ecosystem capacity-building efforts in 2025. Growing out of the Digital Benefits Leadership Council, we held BenCamp 2025, which brought together over 60 cross-sector senior-level leaders from the U.S. The convening sought to build state capacity for accessible, secure, and accurate digital benefits delivery. Participants returned in October 2025 to share updates and collaborations since they last met and discuss timely topics. Active discussion in the Digital Benefits Leadership Council also led to an offshoot working group that responded to changes in the space brought about by H.R. 1.
We also hosted two in-person convenings for State Chief Data Officers in partnership with the National Governors Association and UCLA’s Data Equity Center. The convenings gave 12 CDOs an opportunity to discuss topics that are top of mind, including AI adoption, technology vendors, data governance frameworks, and establishing a CDO office. Our team used these insights to help prioritize key issues the network will address in the year ahead.
We also held open convenings to build knowledge, connection, and lessons learned.
- Platformland: A Book Talk with Richard Pope: In February we hosted Richard Pope to expand upon the themes discussed in his book, Platfomland, and offer a strategic vision for improving digital services.
- Behind the Curtain: A Digital Delivery Story Slam for Former Federal Employees: In May, we partnered with the Humans of Public Service (HOPS) to host a moth-style story slam for former federal employees affected by federal-level changes, working in digital delivery. We highlighted 10 impactful stories about a digital delivery moment storytellers were proud of.
- Design System Huddle: In July, we hosted 30 government practitioners from across various jurisdictions and levels of government focused on developing and maintaining government design systems to share lessons learned and best practices.
- FormFest 2025: In September, we partnered with Code for America to host the third annual FormFest celebration, gathering more than 2,000+ practitioners interested in government form innovation.Â
We look forward to offering more convenings for practitioners to grow their skills, connect, collaborate, and solve problems together.
Digital Government Hub
Sharing and centralizing resources from across the ecosystem remains a priority for us. The Digital Government Hub (DGH) continues to be a dynamic, open-source reference library for anyone using design, data, and technology to improve and enhance government service delivery. With 165.5k new visitors to the DGH, we added 410 new resources and examples to our library.
We also continue to update the Hub to meet user needs and engage with our library content. Highlights include:
New Hub Features
Digital Benefits Ecosystem Directory and Map: We launched our Digital Benefits Ecosystem Directory and Map (EDM). The EDM provides insights into which organizations from which sectors are working on specific benefits and in specific ways to improve digital benefits access and delivery.
H.R. 1 Implementation Page: The One Big Beautiful Bill Act has led to significant historic changes to public benefits. In response, we created a centralized page for resources on implementation priorities that can help governments create services that are compliant with H.R. 1 and reduce harm to beneficiaries. We, alongside our ecosystem partners, have curated a suite of resources for governments to explore and use.
Featured New Submissions
SNAP Work Requirements Checklists
This document offers three different formats for summarizing HR1 changes to SNAP work requirements.
NYC Plain Language Tools: Write with Community in Mind
A curated toolkit of plain-language writing resources, training, and guidance aimed at helping government and public-service staff create accessible, easily understood communications.
Buying AI: Tips and tools for public procurement
A practical, plain-language guide offering public-sector procurement and technology teams actionable tools and best practices for procuring AI responsibly and effectively.
How to apply a content-first design approach to public services
A toolkit that explains how to apply a content-first design approach to public services, helping teams design content strategy and interfaces based on user needs.
Best Practices for Public Sector AI Use Case Inventories
This report outlines best practices for developing transparent, accessible, and standardized public sector AI use case inventories across federal, state, and local governments
SNAP & Medicaid Work Requirements Service Blueprints
This file contains two, state-agnostic service blueprints that visualize how the new work requirements policy passed as part of H.R. 1 impacts the process of applying for, determining, and maintaining eligibility for SNAP and Medicaid benefits.
New Content Series
Practitioner Picks Series: We introduced Practitioner Picks, a new quarterly publication designed to add fresh resources to the Digital Government Hub’s library, helping people improve government digital service delivery. Each issue spotlights resources chosen by practitioners in a specific service delivery area, along with their insights on why these picks are valuable additions to the Hub. In our latest editions, our contributors round up resources to help bring housing services into the digital age and help integrate digital accessibility into government delivery.
Practitioner Picks: Digital Housing Edition
Practitioner Picks is a new quarterly series designed to add fresh resources to the Digital Government Hub’s library, helping people improve government digital service delivery. Each issue spotlights resources chosen by practitioners in a specific service delivery area along with their insights on why these picks are valuable additions to the Hub. In this edition, our contributors round up resources to help bring housing services into the digital age.
Practitioner Picks: Digital Accessibility Issue
Practitioner Picks is a quarterly series designed to add fresh resources to the Digital Government Hub’s library, helping people improve government digital service delivery. Each issue spotlights resources chosen by practitioners in a specific service delivery area along with their insights on why these picks are valuable additions to the Hub.
We look forward to continuing to iterate, improve, and grow the DGH to meet the needs of our community.
Introducing the Digital Government Network
As we reflect on the work of the Digital Benefits Network, the Digital Service Network, and the State Chief Data Officer Network, we are excited to share the next chapter. In 2026, these three communities will come together as the new Digital Government Network. This unified network builds directly on the strengths, innovations, and collective impact showcased throughout this report, creating a single home for all digital government practitioners.
The merger reflects how government teams actually work—across programs, disciplines, and levels of government—and will offer participants even more learning opportunities, shared resources, and cross-cutting insights that connect digital service, benefits delivery, and data leadership.
By bringing these networks together, the Beeck Center will provide deeper expertise, richer peer-to-peer connections, and a streamlined experience for accessing communities, events, and practical training and tools. The Digital Government Network ensures that everything you value from the DBN, DSN, and CDO not only remains intact, but grows—offering an enhanced, future-ready platform for public-sector innovators, all in one place.
We’ll be sharing new ways to engage and stay connected soon!
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