What will we do after identifying efficiencies?

Government efficiency is an oxymoron. Whether you face right or left, no one can deny there is probably waste (inefficiency) in the government — yet-to-be-identified fraud and abuse maybe not so much. So, the “DOGE mission ... to bring much-needed efficiency to our bureaucracy” must be a good thing, right? Their “bull in the China shop” method may not be delicate, but previous efforts to get the bureaucrats to make improvements have been ignored. I understand that Ronald Reagan had made thousands of recommendations, few were ever implemented.

So here is the thing, what happens to the savings from the efficiencies? The trillions Musk is promising could go to balancing the budget - a good thing. They could go to reducing the deficit - another good thing. Or they could be used to reduce revenue demands (i.e. income tax) of the very rich while doing nothing to eliminate budget gaps or reduce the deficit. Think about that.

Also just reducing staffing levels may affect service levels. Less staff to pick up the phone at IRS, SS, or Medicare. Less testing of new drugs and food products. Fewer air traffic controllers keeping airplanes apart. Less monitoring the new efficient bureaucracies for fraud and abuse.

Joe Celosky

Hoffman Estates