Nuked 
Hey there, tech enthusiasts! Let’s dive into a dramatic turn of events in the government tech landscape.
Billionaire investor Mark Cuban has stirred the pot with a surprising offer of assistance to federal workers recently laid off, courtesy of the General Services Administration’s abrupt changes.
Cuban took to the Bluesky social network to deliver his message, encouraging those affected by the layoffs to band together and leverage their skills by forming a consulting company.
His advice? If you were part of 18F, the tech unit that was axed, consider regrouping to provide your expertise to former employers in a new capacity. He even humorously suggested that they could find a way to help fix the mishaps caused by the government’s efficiency initiatives.
The cuts, affecting about 70 employees, align with a broader directive to shrink the federal workforce, a move reminiscent of recent efforts spearheaded by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Mark Cuban’s timely offer raises an intriguing question: can these displaced workers pave a new path for civic tech, crafting their own startups to provide much-needed services back to the government?
Only time will tell if they seize this moment to reshape the tech landscape in ways that align with their vision. Meanwhile, the community buzzes with ideas, including one suggestion to brand their new company as ’18FU’!
