Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia is leading an overhaul of how federal workers retire, aiming to transform a paper-based system into a seamless, online experience like visiting an Apple Store. The process currently involves accessing personnel files stored in a limestone mine in western Pennsylvania, which can take two months to complete. In contrast, Gebbia envisions the entire process taking just a few days.
Gebbia’s goal is to create a user-friendly digital platform for federal workers to apply for retirement, citing design and engineering as key solutions to overcome inefficiencies. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), where Gebbia serves as a member, aims to reduce costs and improve efficiency in the retirement process.
The current system, which relies on paper-based filing, results in only 8,000 retirements being processed per month. This bottleneck was identified by DOGE when it offered early retirement buyouts to hundreds of thousands of workers. With an overhaul planned for within months, Gebbia believes his team can create a better experience for everyone involved.
Gebbia has expressed support for the Republican cause and is a long-time Democratic donor, sparking controversy on Airbnb’s forums after he revealed his involvement with DOGE in February. Despite this, he remains an Airbnb board member, maintaining that his personal views do not reflect those of the company.
Source: https://fortune.com/2025/03/28/joe-gebbia-doge-federal-employee-retirement-system-apple-store