Washington, DC rolls out redesigned beta version of city’s website with new digital services

Washington, D.C.’s government on Thursday rolled out a redesigned version of its city website with a number of new features for residents to more easily find services and information.

The new beta dc.gov is the first major update to the city’s web presence in over a decade. Rather than requiring users to navigate multiple sites or manually scan menus, the new domain doubles as a service portal by consolidating information for D.C. residents, employees, businesses and visitors on programs and agencies with real-time content updates in one place.

The redesigned site is built on Drupal 11, the latest version of the open source content management system used by some governments, a news release said. Drupal provides built-in, enterprise-grade security features, such as two‑factor authentication, better controls to prevent multiple logins from different locations and broader support for modern security headers, making the site more fortified against new and evolving cyber threats, the release said.

Along with a new design that is available in multiple languages and automatically translated via Google Translate, it also meets the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. On top of that, the site features an interactive calendar with the ability to discover events at the neighborhood level across the District and presents curated sections on seasonal government services, such as summer programs, leaf season and the snow team, along with information on business support.

D.C.’s Office of the Chief Technology Officer, which led the redesign project, is also launching a structured resident-engagement initiative on June 19 to gather feedback on the site and what other improvements can be made. This initiative includes an online survey and in-person public events across the city to collect data that will inform improvements, such as an AI-powered search function built on Google’s AI in Search technology.

“The beta launch of DC.gov is more than a website update — it’s a signal of where we’re headed.  This moment reflects our commitment to building digital infrastructure that is inclusive, accessible, and ready for the DC of tomorrow,” Stephen N. Miller, D.C.’s chief technology officer, said in the release. “From responsible AI governance to modernized services that nearly 700,000 residents depend on, we’re not just celebrating what this administration has built — we’re building toward what comes next.”