Biden aims to cut bureaucratic runaround for gov't services

President Joe Biden on Monday will sign an executive order aimed at saving Americans time and frustration when seeking a broad array of federal services, like renewing passports, applying for Social Security benefits and getting aid after natural disasters.

Two senior White House officials confirmed details of the executive order, speaking on the condition of anonymity before the announcement. Parts of the order also were provided in advance to advocacy groups that have called for the government to improve its level of service to the public.

The order is aimed at reducing the current bureaucratic runaround, under which people often have to visit offices, endure long phone calls or struggle with the delays of mail and fax machines when trying to contact federal agencies.

The White House hopes that improving the public's experiences with federal agencies will help to renew faith in government and democracy itself at time when deep political polarization has eroded trust in U.S. institutions.

That's a tall order, considering that the federal government has persisted in its lumbering ways despite repeated attempts over generations to make it more nimble. Former President Bill Clinton famously pledged in 1993 to “reinvent government” with an interagency task force.

The country has seen a strong economic rebound as coronavirus relief programs sent money directly to Americans. But support for the president has slumped as the United States faces inflation at a nearly four-decade high and the coronavirus pandemic lingers.

The new executive order should bring government services into the digital era, said Bill Sweeney, senior vice president of government affairs for AARP, an association for older Americans.

“We do our banking online," Sweeney said. “We do our work online. We...