The difference now is Elon and Vivek have a huge public following. They can get on tv and report who and what are obstructing them from achieving their mission. In the past who knew cost cutters were at work and, more importantly, who they were. Elon is a national figure and, may I say it, a national hero. Vivek is an extremely well spoken and charming individual. Don't short sell both of them.
They should work with Rand Paul as he has worked tirelessly to identify waste but as Chris says that’s easier than pulling it off but I do think America is ready for a reset and knows just a few minor tweaks aren’t going to work
Rufo is still correct. The admin state will defeat their celebrity by blocking Musk and VR with reams of red tape. Every agency, corporation, or department have sponsors who will support the red tape strategy of the bureaucratic state.
Then take the fight to the public square with relentless messaging — like, “Sign of Insanity = doing the same thing every time and expecting different results.”
Do they? Among the people you know, I'm sure, but outside of that not so much. Remember that many people who voted for Trump are not MAGA and had to hold their nose to do so.
Look, I hope they make some progress. It would be wonderful to get rid of the Department of Education. But I'm old enough to remember the Grace Commission of the Reagan years. It had a lot of great ideas, few of which were ever implemented. To be sure, the GOP has the House this time, and not just the Senate, so I think they'll probably accomplish more. But I've seen so many of these programs, and so many promises, and few ever really come to fruition. We'll see.
If they follow the roadmap in their WSJ article it has a good chance of at least partially succeeding. Just ending remote work and transferring offices out of DC is promising.
The problem is not inefficiency. The problem is government intervention in almost all areas of everyday life. Putting new people in charge and making things run more smoothly won't accomplish anything useful. Whole departments and agencies need to be abolished and hordes of bureaucrats fired.
I've read several articles on the complexity and challenges of cutting govt spending. Your's was the most succinct explanation. Nicely done as usual, thanks!
Right on. There is so much spending that goes to people, companies and organizations who in turn provide the bucks for re-election coffers that congress in general is not going to jeopardize, therefor pigeonholing proposals will be congresses way of saying "not in my district are you going to cut spending." Will be an interesting showtime.
Chris, this is why I subscribe. I am an optimistic realist and you have threaded that needle perfectly here. Press on, brother - your exceptional work now has a smoother track…
I’m an optimist by temperament, but a pessimist by policy. Thus, I have little faith in our usually spineless Congress critters to enact the massive cuts that Elon and Vivek will recommend (and which Trump will likely support).
But I do believe you’re on target that targeted cuts, while not saving huge sums, could go far toward changing the tone and culture of the various bureaucracies. That’s a big deal, and if done right, could result in nearly generational change in how the bloated agencies think and operate.
I guess it all depends upon whether or not Trump and company are allowed to rewrite the way in which long-term civil servants (or better said “civil masters”) are hired and fired.
I think that the cultural mindset has changed in this area as well, so I find I am more optimistic than Chris and many of the commenters here. A lot of people voted for change, and we didn’t mean tiny tweaks. If members of congress don’t go for the changes recommended by DOGE, they’ll likely lose in the next election, and I think they know it - or soon will realize it.
I certainly think they will make an impact, but I think the scope is going to be a problem. As a former Federal worker, I think the issue is not simply bureaucratic inertia, but that sweeping promises are being made without an understanding of the details. For instance, they want all remote workers to return to office. Does this mean any office, or the one to which they are assigned? In the two agencies I worked for, many of our fully remote employees were military spouses. They were remote because they were assigned to headquarters, but their spouse was stationed somewhere far away from DC. In my last agency, FEMA, we had many people that technically qualify as remote, but they support disasters in multiple states. If they have to report in-person to a disaster site, then FEMA would have to hire more people to make this happen. What about employees that qualify as IMCOREs (a FEMA employee category)? They can live anywhere in the country - so technically they are remote - but travel 300+ days per year. If they returned to office, they would never be there. Whenever I hear about 'government reform' I am generally cynical. My experience has been that people that criticize government agencies have little understanding what the agency does or its authorities. For example, during the first Trump administration I worked at HUD. During an event where we were distributing information about opportunity zones, I was confronted by a Congressional staffer demanding to know why HUD wasn't building houses in his district. The simple answer: HUD doesn't build houses. It has no authority to do so. My first disaster working for FEMA, a Republican representative held a press conference demanding FEMA raise the cost share. There's one problem, only the President or Congress can do that. Again, FEMA has no authority to do so. I've even seen recently where people (read: commenters on social media) believe that states should have the lead on disasters and FEMA should only deploy when requested by the governor and after the state exhausts its resources. They go so far as to say this should be a reform for the new administration. Just one problem: that's how the system already works. It's worked that way for decades. I certainly agree that government spending and staffing needs serious examination. Some of the positions in my past agencies were redundant and needed to go. Even though eliminating these positions is necessary, it won't get close to the $2 trillion that DOGE set as a target. My concern is that DOGE is over-promising but will under-deliver which could be a huge problem for the next Republican presidential candidate. It's not for lack of brainpower or talent. I just think that the devil truly is in the details and any cuts will be much smaller than anticipated.
Or they can just ignore the details and go for it. It seems like Musk and Ramaswamy are talking more about “slash and burn” than delicate surgery, and Musk has said that if they cut something that turns out is needed after all, they can just put it back.
Acknowledging the complex challenges of reforming FEMA, each and every example you give just shows why there should not be a Federal Emergency Management Agency. These problems of remote FEMA workers go away when each state is fully responsible for its own emergency response.
I recommend the WSJ article written by Musk and Vivek regarding their vision, available outside the WSJ paywall at https://archive.is/x5Uan. It's dynamite.
I hope the dynamic duo will read Chris's recommendations in this post. His reservations are fair, but one can hope, dream - and pray.
This Thanksgiving, my thanks to you, Mr Rufo, for your tireless, visionary, focused and effective work.
As a life long educator, I pray the U.S. Department of Education will be cut. I am not aware of anything the federal government has done to improve education in my 44 years in education... grant money going to pornographic art years ago, Common Core and C-SCOPE which stripped education of classical literature, CRT, and now transgender ideology, etc.
One more comment: The procedural barrier that the "DOGE" team has is the same as the Grace Commission 4 decades ago during the Reagan Administration: the barrier of not having any official or inside authority for anything related to the Federal budget or personnel policies. Unless OMG and the Congressional Republican leadership make a good faith attempt to keep DOGE synched with the Congressional budget process, DOGE risks being pushed to the sidelines and largely irrelevant/optics only in the first three months of the Trump Administration when the key first budget and tax decisions are made...
When Eisenhower was elected, he openly admitted that he wasn’t well-versed in all things government. He hired people that agreed with him and people that disagreed with him so they could all present him with different solutions to issues. He researched those solutions, and then acted upon what he thought was best.
That is what good politicians and leaders do. You don’t have to be the smartest, you just have to have the knowledge and the heart to make hard decisions.
I believe that is how Elon Musk has been so successful at SpaceX and Tesla. My hope is that Vivek and Elon will make recommendations so that Trump and his team can act upon them and begin to slay the dragon that is the US government.
The difference now is Elon and Vivek have a huge public following. They can get on tv and report who and what are obstructing them from achieving their mission. In the past who knew cost cutters were at work and, more importantly, who they were. Elon is a national figure and, may I say it, a national hero. Vivek is an extremely well spoken and charming individual. Don't short sell both of them.
The public needs to know what's going on and how our tax dollars are squandered. Public outcry will go a very long way.
They should work with Rand Paul as he has worked tirelessly to identify waste but as Chris says that’s easier than pulling it off but I do think America is ready for a reset and knows just a few minor tweaks aren’t going to work
Rufo is still correct. The admin state will defeat their celebrity by blocking Musk and VR with reams of red tape. Every agency, corporation, or department have sponsors who will support the red tape strategy of the bureaucratic state.
Then take the fight to the public square with relentless messaging — like, “Sign of Insanity = doing the same thing every time and expecting different results.”
Do they? Among the people you know, I'm sure, but outside of that not so much. Remember that many people who voted for Trump are not MAGA and had to hold their nose to do so.
Look, I hope they make some progress. It would be wonderful to get rid of the Department of Education. But I'm old enough to remember the Grace Commission of the Reagan years. It had a lot of great ideas, few of which were ever implemented. To be sure, the GOP has the House this time, and not just the Senate, so I think they'll probably accomplish more. But I've seen so many of these programs, and so many promises, and few ever really come to fruition. We'll see.
If they follow the roadmap in their WSJ article it has a good chance of at least partially succeeding. Just ending remote work and transferring offices out of DC is promising.
Agree completely as well as liquidating buildings that are 50%empty .
And show a good-faith effort of enacting fair and common-sense policy changes.
The problem is not inefficiency. The problem is government intervention in almost all areas of everyday life. Putting new people in charge and making things run more smoothly won't accomplish anything useful. Whole departments and agencies need to be abolished and hordes of bureaucrats fired.
Agreed!
Elon and Vivek need to establish a platform to channel federal employees who wish to speak up as Whistleblowers.
And to do that now.
Elon and Vivek may wish to inform the Whistleblowers that they have a generous number of positions available to those who come forward now:
Those who are committed to making America great again, to making America healthy again, and to making the federal government transparent again.
The application process has started, I understand.
Obama was 'posed do that, but then he plum fergot...
Chris,
Excellent article as always. The issue will be how Doge turns intention into action.
If you get a chance, please see my substack.com article, same subject, at jamescking.substack.com
Jim
I've read several articles on the complexity and challenges of cutting govt spending. Your's was the most succinct explanation. Nicely done as usual, thanks!
Right on. There is so much spending that goes to people, companies and organizations who in turn provide the bucks for re-election coffers that congress in general is not going to jeopardize, therefor pigeonholing proposals will be congresses way of saying "not in my district are you going to cut spending." Will be an interesting showtime.
Chris, this is why I subscribe. I am an optimistic realist and you have threaded that needle perfectly here. Press on, brother - your exceptional work now has a smoother track…
I’m an optimist by temperament, but a pessimist by policy. Thus, I have little faith in our usually spineless Congress critters to enact the massive cuts that Elon and Vivek will recommend (and which Trump will likely support).
But I do believe you’re on target that targeted cuts, while not saving huge sums, could go far toward changing the tone and culture of the various bureaucracies. That’s a big deal, and if done right, could result in nearly generational change in how the bloated agencies think and operate.
I guess it all depends upon whether or not Trump and company are allowed to rewrite the way in which long-term civil servants (or better said “civil masters”) are hired and fired.
I think that the cultural mindset has changed in this area as well, so I find I am more optimistic than Chris and many of the commenters here. A lot of people voted for change, and we didn’t mean tiny tweaks. If members of congress don’t go for the changes recommended by DOGE, they’ll likely lose in the next election, and I think they know it - or soon will realize it.
Here's to hoping you're 100% correct!
This^^^^
Chris, well-said! I have been trying to explain this to people, but your explanation relieves me of the burden! Thanks!
I certainly think they will make an impact, but I think the scope is going to be a problem. As a former Federal worker, I think the issue is not simply bureaucratic inertia, but that sweeping promises are being made without an understanding of the details. For instance, they want all remote workers to return to office. Does this mean any office, or the one to which they are assigned? In the two agencies I worked for, many of our fully remote employees were military spouses. They were remote because they were assigned to headquarters, but their spouse was stationed somewhere far away from DC. In my last agency, FEMA, we had many people that technically qualify as remote, but they support disasters in multiple states. If they have to report in-person to a disaster site, then FEMA would have to hire more people to make this happen. What about employees that qualify as IMCOREs (a FEMA employee category)? They can live anywhere in the country - so technically they are remote - but travel 300+ days per year. If they returned to office, they would never be there. Whenever I hear about 'government reform' I am generally cynical. My experience has been that people that criticize government agencies have little understanding what the agency does or its authorities. For example, during the first Trump administration I worked at HUD. During an event where we were distributing information about opportunity zones, I was confronted by a Congressional staffer demanding to know why HUD wasn't building houses in his district. The simple answer: HUD doesn't build houses. It has no authority to do so. My first disaster working for FEMA, a Republican representative held a press conference demanding FEMA raise the cost share. There's one problem, only the President or Congress can do that. Again, FEMA has no authority to do so. I've even seen recently where people (read: commenters on social media) believe that states should have the lead on disasters and FEMA should only deploy when requested by the governor and after the state exhausts its resources. They go so far as to say this should be a reform for the new administration. Just one problem: that's how the system already works. It's worked that way for decades. I certainly agree that government spending and staffing needs serious examination. Some of the positions in my past agencies were redundant and needed to go. Even though eliminating these positions is necessary, it won't get close to the $2 trillion that DOGE set as a target. My concern is that DOGE is over-promising but will under-deliver which could be a huge problem for the next Republican presidential candidate. It's not for lack of brainpower or talent. I just think that the devil truly is in the details and any cuts will be much smaller than anticipated.
Thanks for an insider look.
Very important points. Thank you.
I had no clue about military spouses or FEMA workers.
Or they can just ignore the details and go for it. It seems like Musk and Ramaswamy are talking more about “slash and burn” than delicate surgery, and Musk has said that if they cut something that turns out is needed after all, they can just put it back.
Acknowledging the complex challenges of reforming FEMA, each and every example you give just shows why there should not be a Federal Emergency Management Agency. These problems of remote FEMA workers go away when each state is fully responsible for its own emergency response.
Vivek has said that the only way to fire fed workers is elimination of entire functions or departments. So the game is to go big - really big.
I recommend the WSJ article written by Musk and Vivek regarding their vision, available outside the WSJ paywall at https://archive.is/x5Uan. It's dynamite.
I hope the dynamic duo will read Chris's recommendations in this post. His reservations are fair, but one can hope, dream - and pray.
This Thanksgiving, my thanks to you, Mr Rufo, for your tireless, visionary, focused and effective work.
Thank you for your support!
As a life long educator, I pray the U.S. Department of Education will be cut. I am not aware of anything the federal government has done to improve education in my 44 years in education... grant money going to pornographic art years ago, Common Core and C-SCOPE which stripped education of classical literature, CRT, and now transgender ideology, etc.
Countering the propaganda/censorship machine won't be easy, but will be essential.
Absolutely!
One more comment: The procedural barrier that the "DOGE" team has is the same as the Grace Commission 4 decades ago during the Reagan Administration: the barrier of not having any official or inside authority for anything related to the Federal budget or personnel policies. Unless OMG and the Congressional Republican leadership make a good faith attempt to keep DOGE synched with the Congressional budget process, DOGE risks being pushed to the sidelines and largely irrelevant/optics only in the first three months of the Trump Administration when the key first budget and tax decisions are made...
When Eisenhower was elected, he openly admitted that he wasn’t well-versed in all things government. He hired people that agreed with him and people that disagreed with him so they could all present him with different solutions to issues. He researched those solutions, and then acted upon what he thought was best.
That is what good politicians and leaders do. You don’t have to be the smartest, you just have to have the knowledge and the heart to make hard decisions.
I believe that is how Elon Musk has been so successful at SpaceX and Tesla. My hope is that Vivek and Elon will make recommendations so that Trump and his team can act upon them and begin to slay the dragon that is the US government.