## Notes from 14 February 2026 [[2026-02-13|← Previous note]] ┃ [[2026-02-15|Next note →]] I discovered **[[Tech Viaduct]]**, an initiative by the [[Searchlight Institute]] designed to provide a ready-to-launch administrative blueprint for a future government transition ([details here](https://www.searchlightinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Announcing-Tech-Viaduct.pdf)). The project operates on the premise that US government services have failed to meet expectations for decades due to the fossilization of procurement, budget, and oversight rules. Tech Viaduct seeks to address this by moving beyond theoretical policy into the production of "Day 1" deliverables, such as drafted executive orders and legislative frameworks. The initiative identifies [[Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)]] as a source of significant disruption _but also as a demonstration that rapid government change is possible with sufficient political will_. Tech Viaduct aims to utilize that same speed for "reconstruction", focusing on three systemic pillars: - **Procurement and personnel:** Reforming how the government sources technology and structures civil service roles to attract technical talent. - **Tactical readiness:** Developing implementation-ready plans for executive and congressional pathways to avoid the typical two-year "study" phase of a new mandate. - **Oversight reform:** Reinventing compliance checklists to focus on service delivery and the fulfillment of a program's core purpose. The leadership team includes former senior officials such as **[[Mikey Dickerson]]** (USDS), **[[Denis McDonough]]** (VA/White House), **[[Alexander Macgillivray]]** (CTO/Twitter), **[[Jacky Chang]]** (GSA) and [[Jonathan Mostowski]]. Their presence suggests a focus on operational experience rather than academic research. This approach indicates that the strategy popularized by **[[Project 2025]]** has set a new standard for think tanks across the political spectrum. These organizations are acting as shadow bureaucracies, preparing the logistical and legal groundwork (including drafts of decrees and personnel vetting) well in advance to ensure immediate execution.