President Biden on Monday signed an executive order seeking to streamline and modernize a vast array of government services that directly affect Americans, such as claiming retirement benefits, renewing passports and filing taxes.

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       Since taking office, Biden has repeatedly emphasized his desire to show that government can work for its citizens. Monday’s order is among the most concrete actions he has taken to seek to deliver on that pledge.

       During an Oval Office signing ceremony, Biden said that the order would ensure that the federal government puts “people at the front of the line” and ticked off a few promised benefits, including using better technology to speed security lines at airports and making tax-filing less cumbersome.

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       “I know it sounds like a simple thing,” he said. “I think it’s pretty consequential.”

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       In a “fact sheet” released ahead of the signing, the White House detailed numerous other examples of interactions with government “customers” that can be improved through more online access and streamlined application processes.

       “Whether searching for vaccine safety information, claiming retirement benefits, receiving health insurance, passing through a security checkpoint, or checking the status of a farm loan application, Americans expect Government services to be responsive to their needs,” the fact sheet said. “But too often, people have to navigate a tangled web of Government websites, offices, and phone numbers to access the services they depend on.”

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       The executive order identifies 36 “customer experiences” across 17 federal agencies that can be improved.

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       At a news briefing, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the actions would take several months to implement.

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       She, too, cited several examples, including “making Social Security benefits easier to access online so retirees don’t have to go into offices if they don’t want to, saving them time and big headaches.”

       Psaki also noted that Americans would be allowed to renew passports online “instead of having to print forms and pay with a paper check or money order.”

       Many of the promised improvements involve new online tools.

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       Biden is also pledging to overhaul USA.gov, which the White House describes as a “digital Federal front door” to access government services.

       The signing of the executive order comes as Biden’s job approval number continue to sag and many Americans question his stewardship of the economy.

       He signed the order from the Oval Office flanked by nearly a dozen heads of departments and agencies that provide the services he pledges to improve.