As President-elect Trump prepares to take office, one of the most exciting initiatives on the horizon is the proposed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). This advisory commission, led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, aims to tackle the sprawling inefficiencies of the federal government, eliminate wasteful spending, and reorganize federal agencies to better serve the American people. While critics may scoff at the feasibility of such an undertaking, history shows that efforts to streamline government are achievable when guided by strong leadership and clear priorities.
The case for government efficiency transcends partisanship. Although Republicans often champion fiscal responsibility, there is a long tradition of Democrats pursuing accountability in governance as well. Today, with the national debt surpassing $36 trillion, the urgency for such reform cannot be overstated. Yet, to understand the challenges DOGE will face, we must look to the past, examine our present-day problems, and rally around the idea that responsible governance benefits all Americans.
Efforts to increase government efficiency are not new, and history offers valuable lessons for what DOGE can accomplish—and the obstacles it may encounter. One of the most successful examples of fiscal prudence came under the Calvin Coolidge administration. Coolidge, often called “Silent Cal,” presided over an era of economic growth by prioritizing limited government and fiscal discipline. He reduced the national debt by nearly a third, slashed taxes, and vetoed extravagant spending bills. Coolidge believed that “government extravagance is not only wasteful, but it is morally wrong,” a philosophy that resonates with liberty-minded conservatives today. His administration demonstrated that cutting back on bureaucracy and unnecessary spending doesn’t have to mean sacrificing economic prosperity.
On the other side of the aisle, Harry Truman offers an interesting case study. Before becoming Franklin Roosevelt’s running mate in 1944, Truman made a name for himself leading the Senate Special Committee to Investigate the National Defense Program, also known as the Truman Committee. His efforts uncovered massive inefficiencies and fraud in the defense industry during World War II, saving taxpayers an estimated $10-15 billion (approx. $200-230 billion today). Truman’s dogged pursuit of accountability proved that large-scale government programs could benefit from closer scrutiny and streamlined operations.
More recent examples include the Grace Commission under Ronald Reagan, which identified 2,478 recommendations to eliminate waste and inefficiency. While implementation was uneven, the commission highlighted systemic problems that still plague us today, such as duplicative programs and bloated administrative costs. For example, many federal job-training programs remain redundant, with nearly a dozen agencies running separate, overlapping initiatives. These efforts show that while trimming government fat can be difficult, it is not impossible.
Understanding how the federal government became so bloated requires examining decades of fiscal irresponsibility and misplaced priorities. Programs that may have started with noble intentions often metastasized into costly, unaccountable bureaucracies. This phenomenon is exacerbated by a political culture that rewards short-term thinking and avoids hard decisions. For instance, the Pentagon recently failed its seventh consecutive audit (they say they will be able to pass one by 2028), raising questions about billions of untracked dollars. Senator Bernie Sanders rightly criticized this as unacceptable, proving that concerns about inefficiency can—and should—cross party lines.
One glaring issue is the rise of Modern Monetary Theory (MMT), which has gained traction among many progressive economists and policymakers. MMT argues that a government that issues its own currency can spend as much as it wants without concern for deficits, as long as inflation is controlled. This theory has been used to justify massive spending programs, from student loan forgiveness to multi-trillion-dollar stimulus packages, with little regard for long-term consequences. While Republicans have their own history of deficit spending, Democrats’ embrace of MMT has taken fiscal recklessness to a new level. The result? Spiraling debt, wasteful projects, and a federal workforce that seems more focused on perpetuating itself than serving the public.
Consider the contrast between the Obama and Trump administrations regarding the purchase of new Air Force One aircraft. Under Obama, Boeing’s proposal for two new planes ballooned to an estimated $4.4 billion. Trump, in a rare instance of cross-party consensus on the need for efficiency, personally negotiated the cost down to $3.9 billion. This raises an important question: why didn’t the Obama administration push harder to control costs? The answer lies in a lack of political will to prioritize taxpayer dollars over bureaucratic inertia. Examples like this abound, from lavish GSA conferences under the Obama administration to recent revelations of pandemic relief funds being fraudulently claimed or misallocated. These failures prove to us the urgent need for a body like DOGE to hold government accountable.
Encouragingly, DOGE is already generating support from unexpected quarters, including prominent Democrats. In addition to Sen. Sanders, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) has expressed interest in working with DOGE to rein in unnecessary defense expenditures. Even Rahm Emanuel, a seasoned Democratic strategist, has urged his party to embrace the initiative, recognizing that accountability in government benefits all Americans. These endorsements show that while fiscal conservatism is often associated with the Republican Party, the need for responsible spending is, rightly, a shared concern.
Critics of DOGE will inevitably argue that reducing government size and scope risks weakening essential services or creating job losses in the public sector. But this argument misses the point. The goal isn’t to gut government but to make it smarter, leaner, and more effective. Wasteful spending and inefficiency harm everyone by draining resources that could be better used elsewhere, whether it be towards reducing the national debt, overhauling decaying infrastructure, or strengthening defense. Moreover, consolidating duplicative programs or modernizing outdated IT systems could generate savings without cutting frontline services.
It’s also worth noting that government inefficiency disproportionately affects the most vulnerable. When funds are wasted or mismanaged, it’s often low-income families, small business owners, and struggling communities that pay the price. By advocating for a more accountable government, DOGE has the potential to bridge ideological divides and appeal to a broad swath of Americans. For instance, estimates suggest that even a modest 5% reduction in federal inefficiencies could save taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars—funds that could be redirected to infrastructure projects or education reform.
DOGE also has the advantage of being led by unconventional thinkers like Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. Musk, a pioneer in the private sector, has shown an uncanny ability to solve complex problems through innovation and streamlining. Ramaswamy brings a deep understanding of business and a willingness to challenge orthodoxy. Together, they represent a fresh approach to government reform, unencumbered by the entrenched interests that have stymied earlier efforts. While some may chuckle at the acronym DOGE and its coincidental association with a popular meme, this initiative is no joke when it comes to tackling inefficiency.
As Americans, we have a choice: continue down the path of bloated bureaucracy and fiscal irresponsibility or embrace the opportunity to reform government for the better. The creation of DOGE represents a bold step in the right direction, one that deserves the support of conservatives and progressives alike. While the road ahead may be challenging, history shows that meaningful reform is possible when guided by determination and clear principles. By engaging with this effort—whether by contacting representatives or simply sharing these ideas—every citizen can play a role in holding government accountable. It’s time to put partisanship aside and rally around the idea of a government that works for the people, not against them. With the right leadership and public support, DOGE can succeed where others have fallen short. Let’s seize this moment and make government efficiency a cause for all Americans.
Michael J. Hout is the Editor of Liberty Affair. He currently resides in Warsaw, Poland. Follow him on X: @michaeljhout
Leave a Reply Cancel Reply