Airbnb Co-Founder to Redesign U.S. Government Websites

Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia was appointed by President Donald Trump to become the first chief design officer of the United States for redesigning federal websites.

Joe Gebbia will lead a new agency, called the National Design Studio (NDS), which represents a successor to Elon Musk’s now-defunct Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), as first reported by  Axios.

Trump signed an executive order on Thursday creating the studio, saying it was “time to fill the digital potholes across our Nation” and to “update the Government’s design language to be both usable and beautiful,” as reported by Business Insider.

The order describes the initiative, branded “America by Design,” as lasting three years. Federal agency chiefs will be required to consult with Gebbia, with initial results due by July 4, 2026.

Gebbia said on X:

My directive is to update today’s government services to be as satisfying to use as the Apple Store: beautifully designed, great user experience, run on modern software. An experience that projects a level of excellence for our nation, and makes life less complicated for everyday…

— Joe Gebbia (@jgebbia) August 23, 2025

Gebbia compared the vision to Apple’s sleek customer experience, promising services that are simple, reliable, and satisfying. “There’s no reason why our government can’t be a standard for great design,” he told Axios.

The Washington Post notes how the 44-year-old co-founded Airbnb in 2008 after facing difficulties paying his San Francisco rent. The company expanded into a worldwide travel industry leader which welcomed more than 1.5 billion guests. Gebbia stepped down from his operational position at Airbnb in 2022 but continues to collaborate on the board while also serving on Tesla’s board.

During his time at DOGE, Gebbia collaborated with Musk to update the outdated federal retirement system and create digital tools for public services. The Post notes that he has since shifted politically, moving from a Democratic donor to aligning with Trump in 2024.

Elon Musk and White House AI and crypto czar David Sacks congratulated Gebbia on his new role. “As a former cofounder of @Airbnb, @jgebbia could have done anything next but decided to volunteer his time and expertise to public service. Thank you Joe,” Sacks posted, as noted by Business Insider.