POPVOX Foundation Statement on Appointment of Karen E. Donfried as CRS Director
The Congressional Research Service is a national treasure, ensuring our lawmakers have the best resources to tackle today's challenges.
On behalf of POPVOX Foundation, I extend our warmest congratulations to Karen E. Donfried on her appointment as the new Director of the Congressional Research Service (CRS). Dr. Donfried's vast experience, including her leadership at the US Department of State and National Security Council, and her groundbreaking role as the first female president of the German Marshall Fund, uniquely positions her to lead CRS. She joins the organization at a time in which the quality of information and advice available to Members of Congress and their staff is more important than ever.
Dr. Donfried's extensive background in foreign policy and international relations is particularly crucial amid an increasingly complex global landscape. Her expertise will be invaluable in helping legislators learn from international partners and navigate geopolitical issues.
At POPVOX Foundation, we're dedicated to helping Congress understand and respond to emerging issues and address the “pacing problem” — the gap between the speed of technological change and the pace of policy development. This work inevitably involves learning from parliaments around the world, especially on questions such as artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.
We look forward to CRS’ continued evolution to meet the needs of an ever-changing Congress, from concise reports to improved digital accessibility. We have provided recommendations related to CRS to the previous Select Committee on Modernization of Congress and the new Modernization Subcommittee of the Committee on House Administration that resulted in formal recommendations, including:
Recommendation 134. Enhancing the customer experience at CRS: CRS should ensure that its products and services are designed to adapt and meet the needs of an evolving Congress.
The committee's final report listed the following specific improvements:
Emphasizing more concise reports, videos, and podcasts
Improving the functionality of CRS.gov
Tailoring products to staff's knowledge level
Proactively delivering CRS products to staff
Employing technology to survey staff directly and regularly on CRS products and services
Ensuring analysts are continuously up to date in their field
Building a more diverse workforce
Allowing analysts to detail to congressional committees
Improving ease of access to agency reports and other information via web portals
Routinely seeking member and staff input to improve CRS.gov
Additionally, we supported Recommendation 150, which states that CRS should provide regularly updated and complete information on local agency casework contacts and agency digital privacy release form policies.
CRS stands as a beacon of trusted, nonpartisan expertise in an age of declining institutional trust. Under Dr. Donfried's leadership, we hope to see CRS continue to evolve and embrace new tools like large language models while continuing to value and support the dedicated public servants that are the heart of the organization. The Congressional Research Service is a national treasure, ensuring our lawmakers have the best resources to tackle today's challenges.
We wholeheartedly welcome Dr. Donfried back to the Legislative branch and look forward to supporting her work, cheering her on and continuing to collaborate with the CRS team in the years to come.
Sincerely,
Marci Harris
Executive Director
POPVOX Foundation
