This summer the program is looking to establish itself firmly within the federal government's "innovation family."

Not every tech-savvy student at an elite college is looking for a summer internship in Silicon Valley, and if an opportunity in government is the goal, the attractive options can be scarce. A new program is looking to fix that.

Taxpayer value might not be one of the U.S. Digital Service's core focuses, but it is an outcome often related to its mission of developing more effective and efficient digital services for Americans, Nick Sinai said.