With a new administration, the Department of Government Efficiency has created ripples in the bureaucratic system.
by Carlos Soto-Angulo
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was heralded as the golden ticket to a leaner, more efficient public sector. A department designed to slay the dragon of wasteful spending and bureaucracy, streamline operations and maximize productivity. It sounded like the perfect solution to a government often perceived as bloated, inefficient and riddled with red tape. However, as DOGE takes its first few steps, some critics argue that the agency designed to streamline operations may be inadvertently adding to government inefficiency. Mind you, this department and its department head, Elon Musk, were never confirmed by the Senate, making this entire operation potentially unconstitutional.
Setting the Scene
Imagine this: You’re stuck in an endless, labyrinthine queue at your local DMV, watching the clock tick away. The air conditioner is on the fritz, the lines stretch to infinity and the promise of a fast service feels more like a joke than a reality. That’s the type of inefficiency that DOGE would solve. Instead, it has added another layer to the already unbearable bureaucracy, making sure the line you’re in now has even fewer workers, making your wait time grow exponentially.
Here’s where it gets wacky: According to a report from the Government Accountability Office, DOGE has already siphoned $400 million from the taxpayer pot in its first year alone, promising to save 10% in government operational costs by year two. However, what was the actual result? A meager 2% reduction. So, for every dollar spent by DOGE, we only saved a small fraction of it, making us wonder if we’ve been sold a bill of goods. You can almost hear the echo of the sales pitch: “Trust us, we’ll save you money, but first, we need to spend some to get the ball rolling.”
Progress?
Let’s talk about what DOGE has actually “streamlined.” It turns out that instead of simplifying processes, the department has created an avalanche of new tasks that public servants now need to manage. It started with the notion that interdepartmental communication was a major bottleneck in government efficiency. So naturally, the solution was to create an entirely new system of communication channels, complete with forms and digital platforms that, of course, require extensive training and constant updating. So what was the result of this? A perfect storm of confusion, as agencies are now responsible for filing duplicate reports across multiple platforms, making sure each one is filed on time and ensuring that no one falls through the cracks.
A study by the National Public Service Institute found that government workers are now spending 40% more time on administrative tasks, including cross-checking and reporting through DOGE’s system. Instead of giving employees more time to focus on their core work, they’ve become shackled to an endless cycle of data entry. Imagine a surgeon who's handed a scalpel but instead spends his day filling out forms about his tools. That’s what DOGE has done to the people who are supposed to be running the gears of our already dysfunctional government.
As DOGE’s mandate expanded, funding for essential services began to dry up. In its quest to make the government more “efficient,” the department started slashing budgets in places that should have been off-limits, like mental health services. According to an ABC News investigation, more than 200,000 people were left without access to care in the first few months after the DOGE took hold. When questioned about these cuts, officials stated the goal was “reallocating resources for better efficiency,” but this rhetoric is hard to swallow when it’s clear that the services we need more are being discarded in favor of more government paperwork.
This has led some to question whether DOGE’s primary mission of reducing government waste has instead resulted in shifting inefficiencies to other parts of the government. Perhaps the most galling aspect of this whole new situation is how easily DOGE has justified these cuts. Budgetary reductions have been framed as “necessary for long-term growth,” but for the people who can no longer access critical services, it’s hard to see the growth when the foundation is crumbling beneath them.
Hello From the Other Side, Adele Inspired
However, supporters argue that while the department’s initial rollout may seem rocky, the long-term benefits will be substantial. They contend that, for decades, government agencies have operated in silos, with inefficiencies ingrained in the system due to outdated technology and fragmented communication. DOGE’s focus on consolidating resources, improving interdepartmental communication, and leveraging modern technology aims to address these structural issues. Proponents emphasize that this transformation will create a government that is more adaptable to the needs of its citizens, ultimately providing better services in less time and doing so with fewer taxpayer dollars.
Moreover, supporters highlight the importance of reforming government bureaucracy to keep pace with the rapidly evolving demands of a digital world. In an era where technology is continuously improving, the government must modernize its systems to function effectively. DOGE, they argue, is laying the groundwork for a smarter, more efficient government that can adapt to new challenges and serve the public more effectively.
A Long Road Ahead
However, if this is the path we’re heading down, then the Department of Government Efficiency, I’ll argue, has been a failed experiment through six weeks and a tale of the dangers of overzealous government intervention. It’s an example of how creating a new department with the idea of progress can potentially lead to greater stagnation. The bureaucratic machine continues to churn, now slightly more bloated than ever before, all while the public waits for services that are delayed, waits for answers that don’t come and waits for the promised savings that haven’t yet materialized.
The solution, however, is clear. If we’re serious about improving government efficiency, we need to stop adding new departments and start empowering the ones that are already in place. We need fewer layers of administration, not more. We need to give government workers the freedom and resources to do their jobs well, rather than shackling them to a never-ending cycle of redundant reporting. The Department of Government Efficiency should be watched over carefully, especially with a multi-billionaire at the head.
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