Restructuring the Government for Efficiency #

America was founded on the principle that elected officials run the government; however, this is not reflective of current operations. Today, most legal edicts come from ‘rules and regulations’ issued by unelected bureaucrats, not Congress. These actions result in significant costs for taxpayers.

On November 5, voters elected Donald Trump as President, giving him a mandate for substantial change. This led to the creation of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), tasked with reducing the size and scope of federal bureaucracy. DOGE, run by entrepreneurs serving as outside volunteers, aims to cut costs, not just write reports.

DOGE plans to streamline the government by enforcing three major reforms: regulatory rescissions, administrative reductions, and cost savings, primarily through executive action based on existing laws. The focus is grounded in the U.S. Constitution and recent Supreme Court rulings.

In West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency (2022), the Supreme Court held that agencies cannot impose significant regulations without Congressional authority. Similarly, Loper Bright v. Raimondo (2024) rejected the Chevron doctrine, stating courts should not defer to agency interpretations of law. These rulings indicate many current regulations exceed Congressional authority.

DOGE will harness advanced technology and legal experts to identify regulations for potential rescission, presenting the list to the President for executive action. This approach provides immediate relief to individuals and businesses, liberating them from unapproved regulations and invigorating the economy.

Critics may argue that reversing thousands of regulations signals executive overreach, but it corrects earlier unauthorized enforcement. The President must respect Congress’s lawmaking role, not engage in burdensome regulation through administrative fiat. Using executive orders to roll back such rules aligns with constitutional mandates and limits future administrations from reviving them without legislative consent.

Reducing federal regulations logically leads to a downsized federal workforce, as fewer employees are needed to enforce fewer rules. DOGE’s goal is to propose proportional workforce cuts, easing transitions into the private sector with appropriate incentives.

Despite civil-service protections, existing statutes allow for a general ‘reduction in force’ and give the President power to ‘prescribe rules governing the competitive service.’ This power enables implementing broad changes like mass firings or agency relocations. Requiring federal employees to return to the office daily could encourage voluntary terminations, aligning with taxpayer interests.

Focusing on cost reductions, DOGE will challenge overspending, targeting over $500 billion annually spent on unauthorized or misallocated expenditures. Examples include significant yearly funds to various organizations and groups, which often lack Congressional endorsement.

The flawed federal procurement system also contributes to financial inefficiencies, with overlooked contracts representing potential savings. The Pentagon’s repeated audit failures highlight the lack of financial oversight, emphasizing the need for reform beyond entitlement programs.

DOGE is set for structural reductions with a decisive public mandate and a Supreme Court favorable to its aims. Prepared for pushback from entrenched interests, DOGE’s objective is to conclude its mission by July 4, 2026, concluding with a government structure that honors the Founding Fathers’ vision.