The new White House website has a hidden message calling for coders

White House Website Lede
White House Website Lede (Image credit: Windows Central)

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.

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.

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.

Sean Endicott
News Writer and apps editor

Sean Endicott is a news writer and apps editor for Windows Central with 11+ years of experience. A Nottingham Trent journalism graduate, Sean has covered the industry’s arc from the Lumia era to the launch of Windows 11 and generative AI. Having started at Thrifter, he uses his expertise in price tracking to help readers find genuine hardware value.

Beyond tech news, Sean is a UK sports media pioneer. In 2017, he became one of the first to stream via smartphone and is an expert in AP Capture systems. A tech-forward coach, he was named 2024 BAFA Youth Coach of the Year. He is focused on using technology—from AI to Clipchamp—to gain a practical edge.