10 Trends Reshaping Government in the Pandemic’s Wake

While the COVID-19 pandemic continues to challenge the federal government, battle-hardened agencies are seizing the opportunity to build for the future and prepare for the inevitable crises to come.

The obligation to become future-ready permeates government officials’ thinking and planning. Agencies are looking to build long-term resilience, overhaul and integrate systems for greater impact and make programs and services more equitable and inclusive – for everyone.

Looking ahead, Deloitte has identified 10 transformative trends driving public-sector operations:

• Climate-resilient government

Climate resilience has risen to the top of the federal government’s agenda. More agencies now link climate action to their core missions and are looking to maximize data analytics to prepare for climate-related disruptions. Federal agencies are also increasingly investing in resilient infrastructure to withstand extreme weather events and better protect disadvantaged communities. 

• Reshoring and friendshoring supply chains

Long after the pandemic’s initial shock, supply chain challenges continue to create shortages for both suppliers and consumers. The federal government is working to reduce external dependencies and increase resilience. Where it’s impossible to reshore critical supply chains, efforts are underway to “friendshore” supply chains by creating networks of trusted suppliers. 

• Future-proofing the labor force

Even before the pandemic, the labor market experienced dramatic shifts. Technological advances widened the skills gap and increased the demand for specific jobs. To mitigate ongoing labor disruptions across many industries, the federal government is aiming to rebalance labor markets by investing in new policies, education, skills training, credentialing and employment frameworks. 

• Linked-up government

Silos within and between federal agencies administering government programs have long stymied efforts to tackle complicated and systemic challenges. In response to COVID-19 and rising public frustration with systems that don’t work well together, agencies are creating interagency structures that break silos and focus on responding to complex community needs.

• Data-fueled government 

The pandemic underlined the importance of making data readily available to federal agencies so that they can put it to good use. Many agencies are establishing or enhancing the role of the chief data officer to eliminate widespread data gaps and incompatibility issues, improve effective data-sharing efforts, enhance cloud infrastructure and implement advanced data management tools.

• Government as catalyst for innovation

Federal agencies are catalyzing innovation by serving as an enabler, funder, convener and ecosystem integrator to accelerate solutions, link external capabilities and advance next-generation technologies. 

• Collaborating for public health preparedness

Aided by increasing digitization, federal agencies are increasing collaboration with international organizations to build early warning systems, accelerate scientific R&D and strengthen public health capabilities in low-income nations.

• Digital access for all

The federal government is working to bridge the digital divide with more affordable and accessible broadband. Agencies are also redesigning digital platforms, ecosystems and infrastructure to help disadvantaged populations access critical services and social care.

• Designing for richer community engagement

Without the ability to cut through the noise and deliver accurate, important messages to constituents, agencies can struggle to build trust and make programs function. That’s why the federal government is looking beyond traditional methods of communication and focusing on how to better engage marginalized communities and enhance public trust.

• Reimagining social care

The crisis has compelled federal agencies to re-examine how to provide equitable, seamless, and effective social care services under shifting conditions. Social care leaders are increasingly integrating data across multiple sources to develop early interventions, adopting a human-centered mindset to design and deliver programs and providing more holistic “wraparound” support to help recipients.

William D. Eggers serves as the executive director of the Deloitte Center for Government Insights. A noted expert on government reform, he has authored nine books, including: “Delivering on Digital,” “The Solution Revolution,” “If We Can Put a Man on the Moon” and “Governing by Network.”