FedScoop: Why Congress Can’t Wait for Modernization

The 2025 Congressional Hackathon brought together lawmakers, civic technologists, and government partners to explore how technology can make Congress more accessible, transparent, and efficient. Events like this remind us why modernization isn’t a luxury — it’s essential for a government that truly listens and responds to its people.

Hilltop’s founder, Aubrey Ottenstein, joined the conversation, sharing how our CivIQ platform is helping bridge that gap between constituents and their representatives.

“We’re trying to make civic engagement and participation in the democratic process as frictionless as sending a text,” Ottenstein told FedScoop. “Whether English is your first language or your second language, or if you maybe have called Capitol Hill 300 times, or you’ve never spoken to a member of Congress, we want it to be seamless and to have … our constituents feel empowered to send actionable messages that are tied to real legislation.”

That belief is at the center of everything we’re building at Hilltop. Too often, constituent communication systems lag behind the expectations people have for digital experiences. We’re focused on making sure that when someone takes the time to reach out, their message actually reaches the right place — clearly, personally, and without barriers.

Building a More Responsive Congress

The hackathon conversations reflected a growing recognition that technology and empathy must go hand in hand. From exploring AI-assisted tools that help congressional staff manage high volumes of constituent input, to thinking about how to make public engagement more inclusive, it’s clear the demand for better systems is urgent.

Hilltop’s role in that effort is simple: help government meet people where they are. CivIQ’s message routing and AI-powered personalization tools can make constituent contact smarter and faster, while giving staff the analytics they need to understand what people care about most.

Looking Ahead

Modernization can’t wait. Every day, policymakers make decisions shaped by the input they receive — and it’s our responsibility to make sure that input reflects the real voices of their communities.

We’re proud to be part of the national conversation about what that future looks like, and we’re excited to continue building tools that make government work better for everyone.

You can read the full article from FedScoop here: Congressional Hackathon signals mentality shift over emerging tech.