What you need to know
- The new White House website includes a hidden message inviting people to apply to the U.S. Digital Service.
- To see the message, you have to open developer tools for the updated website.
- The White House website was updated following President Biden's inauguration.
Following the inauguration of President Biden, the White House website received a major update. The website includes information about the current administration and the history of the White House but hidden in its code is a secret invitation for people to apply for a job in technology.
If you use the developer tools on your browser to inspect the website, you'll see a hidden message that states, "If you're reading this, we need your help building back better." It then has the text for the United States Digital Service (USDS) job application page.
The USDS is a technology unit that works across the U.S. federal government to improve services. People can join the USDS in tours of civic service with a maximum term of four years. The majority of people involved serve for one or two years, according to the USDS.
The USDS deploys groups of designers, engineers, product managers, and bureaucracy specialists to help civil servants.
The message was spotted on Twitter by Isaac Hepworth, a Microsoft employee.
and this! pic.twitter.com/f2jS9ijZbkand this! pic.twitter.com/f2jS9ijZbk— Isaac Hepworth (@isaach) January 20, 2021January 20, 2021
The USDS page goes over the hiring process and requirements for people to be involved with the organization. The majority of people at the USDS are working remotely at the moment due to the current global pandemic but normally people need to be near Washington, D.C.
The new White House website also has a dark mode, which will likely be appreciated by lovers of high contrast.
