Can the Department OF Government Efficiency (DOGE) make a Difference?

The federal government of the United States engages in far too many activities that it should not be involved in, leading to inefficiency, waste, and heavy-handed overreach. It has grown enormously since the country’s founding. Initially, the federal government was small and had limited responsibilities, primarily focused on defense, foreign affairs, trade agreements, tariffs, coining money, and basic postal services. State rights were fiercely defended and mutually respected. Presidents didn’t seek to impose on state governors. Even during national disasters such as flooding, the federal government assumed no prominent role in the recovery efforts. States were expected to manage the clean-up and rebuilding process using their own resources and charitable donations. State autonomy was recognized, accepted, and respected as “constitutional”. Today, the federal government is too big. It employs too many people. It tries to do too much.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal era of the 1930s marked a significant expansion of the federal government, introducing a myriad of social programs and regulatory agencies aimed at addressing the economic challenges of the Great Depression. This trend of expansion continued through the mid-20th century with the establishment of programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, as well as the creation of numerous, overlapping federal departments and agencies to regulate and oversee different sectors of the economy.

Current Size of the Civilian Federal Workforce

As of 2023, the federal government employed approximately 2.1 million civilian workers, excluding postal workers, and around 1.3 million active-duty military personnel. This makes the federal government one of the largest employers in the United States. In 2023 there were 640,469 postal workers. Today, excluding the military, there are now approximately 2.75 million to 3 million federal workers. This equates to one civilian federal worker for every 114 Americans. This is an outrageous amount of “government” at the federal level. Labor is not being maximized. It’s being grossly wasted.

Arguments for a Smaller Federal Government

Reducing the federal government’s size and scope is good for the nation. Most of the activities the federal government engages in today should be left to the states or the private sector. A smaller federal government will lead to greater efficiency, lower taxes, and less interference in the lives of citizens.

Key points for reducing the federal government’s scope:

• Efficiency: Fewer bureaucratic layers will result in faster decision-making and improved delivery of assistance / services.
• Cost Savings: Lower taxes and reduced national debt from fewer employees and programs.
• Limited Government: Aligns with the Founding Fathers’ vision of individual liberty and freedom.
• Reduced Bureaucracy: Streamlines operations and reduces inefficiencies.

Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)

For the first time in decades, there is a serious effort underway to reduce the size, scope, and cost of the federal government. President Trump is delivering on his campaign promise to uncover waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayer dollars. With the establishment of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), headed by Elon Musk, the ways in which politicians and bureaucrats have been mismanaging our money are quickly coming into focus.

Musk’s innovative approach to streamlining government operations is already yielding significant results. By leveraging cutting-edge technology and a no-nonsense attitude towards fiscal responsibility, DOGE aims to eliminate redundant programs, reduce overhead costs, and ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent efficiently. This initiative is seen as a crucial step towards restoring public trust in the federal government and ensuring that essential services are delivered without unnecessary waste.

The creation of DOGE marks a bold move towards a more accountable and transparent government, aligning with the vision of a leaner, more efficient federal workforce. As this effort progresses, the hope is that it will lead to a more sustainable and fiscally responsible government that better serves the needs of its citizens.

Conclusion

The federal government’s size and scope are not sustainable. It is too large, too cumbersome, too inefficient, and far too overreaching. The workforce needs significant reductions through agency consolidation and focused missions, ensuring essential services remain unaffected. With the creation of DOGE, there is an opportunity to downsize the federal government while improving the well-being of more Americans than if the country did nothing to rein in wasteful spending and corruption. Many federal programs should be eliminated, with state and local governments taking on responsibilities specific to their regions. Americans should once again look to themselves and local governments for assistance, rather than relying on Washington DC.  If only the Democrats and Bureaucrats would get out of the way!