Mark Forman, the former administrator for e-government and IT at OMB, explains why it’s time for a mobile-first approach to digital transformation. The federal government’s original digital strategy — the 2002 E-Government strategy — was built on the idea of consolidation. When identity verification lives on a mobile device, the overall experience of completing a transaction often feels smoother inside a mobile app than on a traditional website. If authentication, trust and security are anchored to mobile devices, then digital-first service delivery must account for mobile apps as a primary transaction channel — not just a responsive afterthought. Government portals need to evolve from a web-centric mindset to a device-centered service model, where native mobile apps can provide lower-friction, higher-trust interactions for high-value and repeat transactions.