DOGE: A Bold Idea for Better Governance

The United States government faces significant challenges in modernizing its operations, reducing waste, and restoring public trust.

The United States government faces significant challenges in modernizing its operations, reducing waste, and restoring public trust. Establishing a Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) offers an innovative solution to tackle inefficiencies and create a smarter, leaner government that serves its citizens better. This proposal, though ambitious, is rooted in the fundamental need to ensure that taxpayer dollars are used effectively and equitably.

Why Efficiency Matters

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has repeatedly identified areas of fragmentation, overlap, and duplication within federal agencies, estimating that addressing these issues could save over $200 billion annually. For instance, the consolidation of federal data centers under the Federal Data Center Optimization Initiative saved over $1.8 billion by 2020, showcasing the immense potential of targeted efficiency programs.

Moreover, public trust in government has plummeted, with surveys by Pew Research Center revealing that only 20% of Americans trust the federal government to do what is right most of the time. By streamlining operations and enhancing transparency, a Department of Government Efficiency could rebuild this trust.

What a DOGE Would Do

The Department of Government Efficiency would focus on five core objectives:

Eliminating Waste:

Conduct audits to identify and eliminate redundant programs, agencies, and processes.

Standardize procurement processes, which could reduce costs by up to 20% in high-expenditure areas like defense and healthcare.

Enhancing Transparency:

Expand platforms like USAspending.gov to provide real-time data on federal spending.

Create public dashboards that allow citizens to track the progress of major initiatives, fostering accountability.

Modernizing Technology:

Leverage artificial intelligence and automation to streamline administrative tasks, potentially saving $41 billion annually according to McKinsey.

Follow Estonia’s example, where 99% of government services are available online, saving the government 2% of GDP annually.

Fostering Collaboration:

Break down silos between federal agencies to ensure cohesive policy implementation.

Promote shared services, such as centralized HR or IT functions, to reduce duplication and improve efficiency.

Driving Innovation:

Partner with the private sector to adopt cutting-edge practices in areas like renewable energy and infrastructure.

Implement lean methodologies like Six Sigma to improve government processes and outcomes.

Elon Musk’s Potential Contribution

Elon Musk, a visionary entrepreneur known for disrupting industries, could play a pivotal role in shaping and guiding the Department of Government Efficiency. His experience in revolutionizing sectors like transportation, space exploration, and energy could bring a fresh perspective and innovative strategies to government operations. Here’s how:

Technological Integration:

Musk’s expertise in automation and AI through companies like Tesla and OpenAI could help modernize government systems, making them faster, smarter, and more reliable.

His focus on decentralized and scalable technologies could optimize inter-agency collaboration.

Sustainable Practices:

Drawing from Tesla’s advancements in renewable energy and battery storage, Musk could help the government transition to sustainable practices in operations and infrastructure.

SpaceX’s focus on cost-efficiency in aerospace could be a model for reducing costs in large-scale government projects.

Innovation Culture:

Musk’s “first principles” approach to problem-solving encourages breaking down issues to their fundamentals and rebuilding solutions—a method that could transform government efficiency initiatives.

His leadership style could inspire a culture of bold experimentation and rapid iteration within the department.

Public-Private Partnerships:

Musk’s success in navigating public-private collaborations, such as with NASA for SpaceX, demonstrates his ability to align government and private sector goals effectively.

He could act as a bridge, encouraging innovation-driven partnerships to tackle systemic inefficiencies.

Learning from International Experiences

International examples underscore the potential benefits of government efficiency reforms:

Azerbaijan’s Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF):

Azerbaijan has successfully implemented an MTEF to link policy priorities with budgeting. This approach ensures that resources are allocated based on strategic goals and performance metrics, promoting fiscal discipline and transparency.

Key outcomes include improved alignment between sectoral strategies and budgetary allocations, as well as enhanced accountability for public expenditures. Such a framework could be adapted by DOGE to prioritize projects and monitor outcomes effectively.

Estonia’s Digital Governance:

Estonia’s pioneering e-governance system enables 99% of government services to be accessed online, saving time and reducing administrative costs. Citizens can vote, file taxes, and access health records securely from anywhere in the world.

The U.S. could adopt similar strategies to modernize services, reduce paperwork, and increase accessibility for underserved communities.

South Korea’s Anti-Corruption Initiatives:

The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission has significantly reduced corruption through digital reporting systems and public accountability mechanisms. Transparency initiatives like these could be instrumental in restoring public trust in U.S. institutions.

Canada’s Shared Services Program:

Shared Services Canada consolidated IT infrastructure across government agencies, leading to significant cost savings and improved cybersecurity. This model highlights the potential benefits of centralizing common services.

The Economic and Social Impact

By prioritizing efficiency, DOGE could redirect billions in savings to critical areas like healthcare, education, and infrastructure. For instance, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that reinvesting these savings could yield returns of $3 for every $1 spent.

Additionally, modernizing government services would reduce processing times for essential services like Social Security claims, improving citizen satisfaction and quality of life. Expanding digital access to underserved communities would ensure that government benefits are distributed equitably, addressing systemic inequalities.

Challenges to Overcome and A Vision for the Future

The creation of a new department is not without obstacles. Political resistance from vested interests, the upfront costs of implementation (estimated at $10-15 billion), and the cultural inertia of bureaucratic systems could pose significant hurdles. However, the long-term benefits far outweigh these challenges.

South Korea’s Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission demonstrates how transparency initiatives can successfully reduce corruption risks. Similarly, Canada’s Shared Services program highlights the value of consolidating administrative functions. These international examples prove that systemic change is possible with the right leadership and vision.

A Department of Government Efficiency represents a bold, necessary step toward modernizing the U.S. government. By prioritizing transparency, technology, and collaboration—and by integrating visionary leaders like Elon Musk—DOGE could save billions, rebuild public trust, and position the U.S. as a global leader in innovative governance.

It’s time to invest in smarter government. The question isn’t whether we can afford to establish a Department of Government Efficiency—it’s whether we can afford not to.

Ramil Abbasov
Ramil Abbasov
Ramil Abbasov, a seasoned finance and public administration expert, has over a decade of experience in international development, climate finance, and public finance management. He has led initiatives focusing on strategic growth, international collaboration, and public policy reform, particularly in sustainable finance and economic regulation. Abbasov has worked as a National Green Budget Economy Expert at the Asian Development Bank and a National Climate Budget Tagging Expert with the United Nations Development Programme.