Government Efficiency: Reality Check on Musk's Short-Term Efforts

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has been under the spotlight since its inception, especially after Elon Musk's brief stint as an advisor. The department's self-reported savings of $180 billion have raised eyebrows, with critics questioning the accuracy of its claims. Elaine Karmarck, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, has been vocal about the department's lack of transparency. She led a similar initiative under President Bill Clinton, which successfully cut a significant number of civil servants and regulations. Karmarck uses three key metrics to evaluate DOGE's effectiveness. The first is the reduction in the federal workforce. Despite claims of a growing government, the number of federal employees has remained steady at around 2. 2 million for decades. The 1940s saw a peak of 3 million employees, which fluctuated over the years but has remained between 2 and 3 million since the 1980s. However, DOGE's layoffs have faced legal challenges, with courts ordering the rehiring of some employees, including those in critical roles like nuclear safety. The second metric is the reduction in government contracts. DOGE claims to have terminated over 11, 000 contracts, saving $34 billion, and ended more than 15, 000 grants, saving $44 billion. However, the accuracy of these figures is questionable, with reports of inaccuracies and lack of transparency. The third metric is the government's performance, measured by economic indicators and public experiences with government services. DOGE's goal of cutting $2 trillion in federal spending is ambitious, given that only a quarter of the government's budget is discretionary spending, amounting to less than $2 trillion. The rest is mandatory spending on programs like Social Security and Medicare. Jenny Mattingly, vice president of government affairs for Partnership for Public Service, notes that the federal workforce has been shrinking per capita, even as the population and the complexity of government tasks have grown. This raises questions about the feasibility of DOGE's goals. The department's lack of transparency has been a recurring issue. Its "Wall of Receipts" is filled with questionable entries, and its website has been criticized for inaccuracies. Faith Williams, director of the Effective and Accountable Government Program for Project on Government Oversight, has been investigating DOGE's structure and potential conflicts of interest. She has raised concerns about the department's opacity and lack of accountability. DOGE's actions have led to several lawsuits, including those related to its handling of data and compliance with the Freedom of Information Act. In contrast, Karmarck's Reinventing Government Initiative did not face any litigation, as it followed the law and had congressional authority. The main tenets of DOGE are not new, with similar initiatives existing under past administrations. However, the department's lack of transparency and accountability has raised concerns about its true intentions and effectiveness.