[justizin]

"There really should be a .gov entity that handles IT and application development."

I think this is the USDS, the "US Digital Service":

  https://playbook.cio.gov/

[acdha]

See also 18F:

https://18f.gsa.gov/

They've made a lot of good hires, too - see e.g.:

https://twitter.com/18F/lists/team/members