Efficiency and the DOGE: This Time Is Different

The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ASPA as an organization.

By Hayk Bejanyan
March 3, 2025

The pursuit of efficiency is as old as human civilization itself and is defined as an ability to achieve a desired outcome with minimal waste of resources. In the modern era, efficiency has become a defining characteristic of governance, where successive administrations have launched various initiatives to streamline government operations and enhance productivity. While these efforts have often led to improvements, inefficiency remains a persistent challenge. The latest and most discussed attempt, under Trump’s new administration, aims to take a radical approach, led by an unconventional figure: Elon Musk.

The American Tradition of Efficiency Reforms: The United States has a long history of efforts to improve government efficiency, with presidents across different eras championing reform initiatives through high-profile commissions. One such example was the Hoover Commission (1947-1949) under President Truman, which sought to reorganize the executive branch and led to significant administrative reforms. Later, President Reagan established the Grace Commission (1982-1984) to identify and eliminate government waste, uncovering thousands of areas for potential cost savings. Another major initiative was the National Performance Review (1993-2001) under the Clinton administration. This effort introduced customer-focused government services and reduced overhead costs, contributing to a budget surplus. 

DOGE-A Radical New Approach: Trump’s new administration has announced its intent to create the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a radical initiative to reduce government size, cut regulations and slash trillions from the federal budget. What makes this initiative stand out is its leadership. Musk, known for revolutionizing industries like electric vehicles and space exploration, brings a tech-driven, results-oriented approach to a bureaucratic system infamous for its slow pace.

For Musk, cutting inefficiencies might seem like an engineering problem—identify the failure points and optimize them. However, the government does not function like a startup. The biggest challenge is whether Musk and his team have the patience and endurance to navigate the bureaucratic complexities inherent in governance.

This Time is Different: Economists Reinhart and Rogoff, in their seminal work This Time is Different, explored the tendency of experts to believe that new circumstances make past experiences irrelevant. In the realm of government efficiency, the same question arises: is this attempt truly different? Several factors set DOGE apart from previous efficiency drives, distinguishing it through its leadership, approach and implementation strategy.

1. Leadership, Data Availability, and Technological Integration: Unlike past initiatives, DOGE benefits from both innovative leadership and unprecedented access to data, combined with advanced technological capabilities. While previous efforts lacked real-time data and the tools to fully integrate emerging technologies, DOGE leverages AI, cloud computing and automation to enhance efficiency, detect fraud, and modernize service delivery.
2. Radical Approach and Political Support: Unlike traditional reform efforts constrained by bureaucratic hurdles, DOGE operates independently, free from internal government resistance. Its external status allows for bold decision-making, including large-scale budget cuts and mass layoffs, without facing institutional pushback. Additionally, DOGE enjoys strong political and legislative support, granting it the freedom to challenge existing norms, introduce unconventional solutions and publicly expose fraud without fear of retaliation.
3. Accountability and Transparency: A core pillar of DOGE’s strategy is its commitment to measurable outcomes and open governance. By implementing transparent performance metrics and real-time tracking, it ensures that government agencies are held accountable for tangible improvements. Additionally, DOGE’s emphasis on public engagement and unrestricted information sharing fosters trust and responsiveness, making reforms more adaptable to real-world challenges.

The Two Approaches to Efficiency: Efficiency can be pursued in two fundamentally different ways. To illustrate this, imagine a person trying to lose weight:

• The Extreme Cut: One drastic way to lose weight is to “cut off an arm”. This would lead to immediate weight reduction but at a severe long-term cost. In the context of government, slashing budgets and reducing workforce numbers may yield short-term savings but could cripple essential functions.
• The Sustainable Diet: A healthier approach is to adopt a diet and exercise. This takes longer but leads to lasting, sustainable results. For government, this means investing in technology, restructuring inefficient processes and retraining employees rather than simply eliminating jobs.

For the first month of operating, DOGE appears to be adopting the first approach, that delivers rapid and robust results but also carries significant risks. Without careful planning, seemingly logical budget cuts could lead to unintended consequences, including rising unemployment, declining public trust and potential threats to national security.

Will DOGE Deliver? The likelihood of success depends on how DOGE at last will define efficiency. If the goal is merely cost-cutting, the impact will be immediate but potentially damaging in the long run. If the aim is structural reform, results will take longer but could lead to genuine improvements. The drive for efficiency is not new, but DOGE represents a bold experiment. This initiative has the potential to shake up DC like never before. However, the challenges of bureaucratic inertia, political resistance and the complexities of government operations cannot be ignored.

Will DOGE be remembered as the initiative that finally revolutionized government efficiency, or will it become another failed attempt in a long history of well-intentioned but ultimately ineffective reforms? The answer lies in whether The DOGE will choose to “cut off the arm” or commit to a long-term, sustainable strategy for government transformation.

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Author: Hayk Bejanyan holds a Ph.D. in Economics and is a public administration professional with extensive experience in government, policy analysis, and research. He is currently a Fulbright Scholar at Florida State University. Hayk has held key roles in public finance, performance auditing and economic policy including work with the World Bank and various government institutions in Armenia. His research focuses on evidence-based policymaking, program evaluation, and economic development. He may be reached at [email protected].

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