Billionaire investor Mark Cuban has waded into the latest government tech shake-up, offering an unexpected lifeline to newly laid-off federal workers on the social network Bluesky. In a post that quickly gained traction, Cuban urged the displaced engineers and designers to turn the upheaval to their advantage by starting a consulting company.

The offer came on the heels of the government's General Services Administration (GSA) abruptly gutting its 18F technology unit, which helps other government agencies build, buy, and share tech products. The layoffs, which affected roughly 70 individuals, were part of a Trump administration directive to shrink the federal workforce and slash spending at the behest of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Cuban's proposal presents an intriguing possibility: could the very workers pushed out of government help reshape the future of civic tech on their own terms? The billionaire investor wrote, "If you worked for 18F and got fired, Group together to start a consulting company... It's just a matter of time before DOGE needs you to fix the mess they inevitably created. They will have to hire your company as a contractor to fix it. But on your terms. I'm happy to invest and/or help."

The 18F technology unit had reportedly built Login.gov, a secure and private way for the public to access services at government agencies, including Social Security and the Department of Veterans Affairs. The unit had previously faced cuts in February, with two dozen employees laid off when GSA cut probationary staffers.

The layoffs are part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to reduce the federal workforce. In a move that has sparked controversy, DOGE sent emails to employees across multiple agencies, including the State Department, the IRS, and the NIH, asking them to list their weekly accomplishments by Monday. The emails, which were widely distributed, have been seen as a sign of the administration's efforts to accelerate the downsizing process.

Even Elon Musk has acknowledged the fallout from the rapid pace of change, admitting that his team had "accidentally canceled" Ebola prevention efforts at USAID. Public health experts have since said that the government's support has not been fully restored. The question now is whether some percentage of the government's growing number of displaced former employees will seize the moment, banding together to build the startups that could one day sell their expertise back to the government.

If Cuban has his way, at least one such unit may find itself inside a private company the government has no choice but to rely on. As one Bluesky user quipped, "Name the new company 18FU." The proposal raises interesting questions about the future of civic tech and the role of private enterprise in shaping government services.

As the government continues to downsize its workforce, Cuban's offer presents a potential lifeline to those affected. It also highlights the opportunities that can arise from disruption, as entrepreneurs and innovators look to fill the gaps left by government cutbacks. Whether or not Cuban's proposal gains traction, it is clear that the future of civic tech will be shaped by the intersection of government, private enterprise, and innovation.