DEPARTMENT OF DEPARTMENTS FROM THE GROUND UP
Built for the Next 250 Years
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S.E.T.T.L.E. Economic Interface
SECURE
Establish a trusted, unified layer for identity, authentication, and access control across all government services. This ensures businesses and individuals can interact safely and consistently, reducing fraud and friction.
Key Agencies: DHS (CISA) – cybersecurity and infrastructure protection. Treasury (FinCEN) – financial system security. IRS and NIST – standards for authentication and encryption
EXCHANGE
Create real-time, interoperable data and payment exchange between federal, state, and local entities. This “API layer” eliminates redundancy, improves speed, and enables automated compliance.
Key Agencies: GSA – purchasing & shared services. IRS – data exchange for taxes. State Treasuries – fund distribution and reporting. FedNow – real-time payment infrastructure. USDS, design and technology to deliver better services.
TRADE
Streamline procurement, cross-border trade, and intellectual property workflows. Build a single trade interface to lower costs for small businesses and expand market access.
Key Agencies: GSA – federal procurement. SBA – small business access and contracting. CBP – customs and border compliance. Commerce (ITA, USPTO) – trade promotion, patent and trademark systems. USTR – trade agreements
TAX
Centralize tax workflows at federal and state levels into one harmonized system for filing, payment, and refunds. Businesses and individuals should have a single, transparent view of their obligations.
Key Agencies: IRS – federal income tax, enforcement. State Departments of Revenue (DORs). Treasury – oversight and compliance.
LICENSING
Accelerate business formation and renewal by unifying federal and state licensing into a single portal. Reduce regulatory complexity while keeping necessary safety and quality checks.
Key Agencies: SBA – business formation support. State Licensing Portals – permits and compliance. FDA – food and drug approvals. OSHA – workplace safety certifications. DOT – transport licensing
ENFORCEMENT
Modernize compliance monitoring with automated detection, data-sharing, and collaborative enforcement. Target bad actors while reducing burdens on compliant businesses.
Key Agencies: DOL – labor law enforcement. EPA – environmental compliance. IRS – tax fraud and evasion. SEC – securities enforcement. DOJ (OIG) – investigative authority.
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F.A.B.R.I.C. Civic Society Stack
FAMILY
Anchor government systems around the basic social unit — the family. Policies and programs should strengthen, not fragment, family stability and support networks.
Key Agencies: HHS (Department of Health & Human Services) – child and family health programs. ACF (Administration for Children & Families) – foster care, adoption, TANF. DOE (Department of Education) – early childhood, K-12, special education. Child Protective Services – local and state-level family protection services.
ACCESS
Guarantee that every individual can securely engage with public services and systems, both digitally and in person. Identity and access must be universal, equitable, and privacy-respecting.
Key Agencies: SSA (Social Security Administration) – identity and benefit verification. USPS (U.S. Postal Service) – universal delivery network, physical reach. State ID Agencies & DMV – issuance of driver’s licenses and IDs. US Digital Service / NIST – digital identity standards and frameworks.
BENEFITS
Distribute social entitlements and safety net programs with efficiency and dignity, ensuring no one falls through the cracks.
Key Agencies: CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) – Medicaid, Medicare benefits. SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) – food support. SSA – Social Security and SSI benefits. State Unemployment Offices – unemployment insurance administration.
RIGHTS
Protect individual freedoms, civil rights, and human dignity under the law, with a focus on equal access and nondiscrimination.
Key Agencies: DOJ Civil Rights Division – enforcement of federal civil rights laws. HUD (Fair Housing & Equal Opportunity) – housing discrimination protections. EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) – workplace rights.
INFRASTRUCTURE
Maintain the shared physical, digital, and environmental foundations upon which society depends. Ensure equitable access to roads, power, broadband, and clean air/water.
Key Agencies: DOT (Department of Transportation) – highways, transit. DOE (Department of Energy) – power grid, energy security. FCC (Federal Communications Commission) – broadband, spectrum. EPA – water systems, pollution controls.
CARE
Provide access to physical, mental, and emotional wellness services to foster resilient communities and reduce preventable suffering.
Key Agencies: HHS – public health programs. CMS – Medicaid/Medicare coverage of care. Local Health Departments – community clinics, disease prevention. ACF – child care and early development services.
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S.H.I.E.L.D. Security & Resilience
SOVEREINGTY
Protect the nation’s independence, borders, and global posture through deterrence, diplomacy, and secure alliances.
Key Agencies: DOD (Department of Defense) – responsible for national defense and deterrence. State Department Diplomatic Security – protection of embassies, diplomats, and foreign service operations. CIA – intelligence gathering abroad to prevent threats and maintain geopolitical advantage.
HOMELAND
Safeguard domestic territory, infrastructure, and the continuity of government operations.
Key Agencies: DHS (Department of Homeland Security) – coordinates domestic security and counterterrorism. FEMA – manages disaster response and recovery. TSA – secures air travel and transportation networks.
INTELLIGENCE
Detect, prevent, and respond to national and transnational threats through data, signals, and human intelligence networks.
Key Agencies: NSA (National Security Agency) – signals intelligence and cyber defense. ODNI (Office of the Director of National Intelligence) – integrates intelligence community efforts. Cyber Command – conducts defensive and offensive cyber operations.
EMERGENCY
Coordinate rapid, decisive responses to disasters, public health crises, and catastrophic events.
Key Agencies: FEMA – disaster response and logistics coordination. HHS-PHE (Public Health Emergency division of HHS) – manages pandemics and medical crises. NTSB – investigates transportation accidents to prevent recurrence.
LOGISTICS
Ensure the movement of goods, supplies, personnel, and information during peacetime and crises.
Key Agencies: GSA (General Services Administration) – procurement and resource allocation. Military Logistics (Army Materiel Command, TRANSCOM) – global supply chains and troop movements. USPS – ensures communications and delivery continuity even in emergencies.
DEFENSE
Maintain combat readiness, deter adversaries, and invest in future military capabilities including cyber and space operations.
Key Agencies: Army – land-based defense operations. Navy – maritime security and deterrence. Air Force – air and space operations. Marines – rapid response expeditionary force. DARPA – drives innovation in advanced defense technologies.
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R.A.D.A.R. Security & Resilience
RELATIONS
Manage diplomatic ties, cultural exchanges, and set norms that maintain the U.S. position in a stable global order.
Key Agencies: Department of State (bilateral and multilateral desks) – manage day-to-day country relationships and policy coordination. Cultural and Educational Affairs (State) – foster people-to-people connections through exchange programs. USTR (U.S. Trade Representative) – manage trade relations and negotiations that tie into diplomacy.
AID
Build goodwill and global resilience through targeted humanitarian assistance, economic development, and capacity building in partner nations.
Key Agencies: USAID – administers development assistance and disaster relief programs. State Department (Bureau of International Organization Affairs, Development programs) – coordinates global development priorities and foreign assistance. Treasury – works on debt relief and financial stability programs with the IMF and World Bank.
DIPLOMACY
Advance peaceful conflict resolution, build coalitions, and promote U.S. values abroad using official channels, persuasion, and public diplomacy.
Key Agencies: Embassies and Consulates – represent the U.S. and conduct negotiations on the ground. UN Missions – engage in multilateral diplomacy and peacekeeping frameworks. Public Diplomacy and Global Engagement Center – counter disinformation and promote democratic narratives.
ALLIANCES
Ensure collective security, shared prosperity, and integrated intelligence through strong alliances and partnerships.
Key Agencies: NATO Mission – lead U.S. participation in transatlantic security. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Program – coordinate defense cooperation and arms sales. State Department’s Office of Political-Military Affairs – manage strategic partnerships, defense agreements, and military-to-military dialogues.
RESEARCH
Lead globally in science, technology, and innovation that support stability, health, and shared progress — while safeguarding dual-use technologies.
Key Agencies: DARPA – pioneer emerging technologies with national security applications. NIH (Global Health Programs) – research to combat pandemics and health threats. NSF International and OSTP (Office of Science & Technology Policy) – coordinate research policy and international collaboration in science and technology.
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C.O.R.E. Meta-Governance Layer
COORDINATION
Enable efficient operations across agencies — including human resources, procurement, and IT — to create a coherent, agile federal workforce and infrastructure.
Key Agencies: OPM (Office of Personnel Management) – manages the federal workforce and hiring systems. GSA (General Services Administration) – oversees shared services and procurement platforms. FCC (Federal Communications Commission) – ensures interoperable communications infrastructure. OMB (Office of Management and Budget) – coordinates budgetary and performance standards across agencies.
OVERSIGHT
Enforce compliance in markets, safety, and governance to ensure accountability and public trust in both the public and private sectors.
Key Agencies: SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) – regulates financial markets and securities law compliance. Federal Reserve (Fed) – ensures financial system stability and monetary policy oversight. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) – enforces environmental regulations and standards. GAO (Government Accountability Office) – audits and evaluates federal programs to reduce waste and improve performance.
RECORDS
Preserve national memory, guarantee public access to information, and protect the integrity of vital records.
Key Agencies: NARA (National Archives and Records Administration) – stewards historical records and transparency under FOIA. SSA (Social Security Administration) – maintains lifetime earnings records for benefits. USPS (U.S. Postal Service) – ensures universal document delivery and continuity of communications.
ENABLEMENT
Drive innovation, accelerate technology adoption, and invest in long-term research outputs that sustain U.S. competitiveness and scientific leadership.
Key Agencies: NASA – explores new frontiers and drives applied science innovation. NSF (National Science Foundation) – funds fundamental research and education in science and engineering. GSA (via Technology Transformation Services) – pilots emerging tech adoption across agencies. OSTP (Office of Science & Technology Policy) – coordinates federal R&D priorities and national tech strategy.