“Our goal is to make the entire federal government both less expensive and more efficient, and to change the culture of our national bureaucracy away from complacency and entitlement toward initiative and empowerment.”
You might assume that these words were spoken by President Donald Trump or Elon Musk when discussing the newly established Department of Government Efficiency. But you would be mistaken.
Former President Bill Clinton made this statement in March 1993.
Fast forward 32 years. Since being sworn in as the 47th president of the United States on Jan. 20, Donald Trump has moved swiftly to tackle the many challenges facing our nation. Among his key initiatives is an aggressive effort to improve government operations through the creation of DOGE.
This new entity is tasked with analyzing government expenditures and processes at every level to identify cost savings for taxpayers. At the helm of this effort is Musk, a world-renowned entrepreneur, innovator and visionary.
Challenging the status quo
Any attempt to disrupt entrenched bureaucracy is bound to ruffle feathers. But what we’re seeing from the left-wing media — and even in opinion pieces published in LNP | LancasterOnline — goes beyond reasonable debate. Instead, these outlets manufacture hysteria, hyperbole and knee-jerk opposition, attacking President Trump no matter what he does.
Why would anyone oppose efforts to streamline government operations, root out waste and improve efficiency? After all, similar initiatives under President Clinton did not generate this level of resistance.
According to a Pew Research Center study, 56% of Americans believe the federal government is “almost always wasteful and inefficient.” President Trump has heard these concerns loud and clear — and he is taking decisive action to address them.
What DOGE already has accomplished
The goal of the Department of Government Efficiency is simple: Ensure that every taxpayer dollar is spent as intended and eliminate inefficiencies that drain public resources.
Yet, despite the commonsense nature of this mission, Democrats in Washington, D.C., are fiercely resisting. Why?
Perhaps it’s because unelected bureaucrats in federal agencies have been quietly funneling billions of taxpayer dollars to initiatives that stretch the limits of congressional authorization. DOGE is exposing these spending practices, and the results are staggering.
DOGE has announced that, in just three weeks, it has uncovered wasteful expenditures, including:
— More than $40 million in underutilized federal real estate leases — now terminated.
— $26 million in consulting contracts for “executive coaching” — now eliminated.
— Major inefficiencies in federal retirement processing, which contribute to delays and excessive costs.
— A $1.5 million federal grant was awarded to a Serbian organization that seeks to promote diversity, equity and inclusion in Serbian workplaces.
Additionally, it has uncovered lax federal payment controls. Musk highlighted these shocking findings in an Oval Office news conference Tuesday:
— The Social Security Administration has individuals on their books who would now be 150 years old.
— Potentially millions of dollars in Social Security payments have been made with no identifying information.
And this is just the beginning. More revelations about government waste and lack of accountability are forthcoming.
Independent oversight needed
The American people — regardless of political affiliation — should be applauding DOGE’s efforts to bring efficiency, effectiveness and accountability to the federal government.
Independent oversight of federal spending should be standard practice, yet Washington has resisted such scrutiny for decades. Having private-sector leaders such as Musk involved in these audits ensures objectivity and a results-driven approach.
A report from the Government Accountability Office estimates that the federal government loses between $233 billion and $521 billion annually to fraud. And that’s just one agency’s estimate — the actual number may be much higher.
With DOGE already identifying significant savings, the potential for long-term financial impact is enormous.
Stakes could not be higher
Washington’s business-as-usual approach to spending has created a fiscal crisis.
Our national debt now exceeds $36 trillion, growing by nearly $2 trillion per year under the Biden administration. We cannot sustain this trajectory. History is filled with empires and nations that collapsed due to economic mismanagement — and without bold action, the United States risks the same fate.
This is not a matter of if — it is a matter of when.
Turning point for fiscal responsibility
DOGE is taking a critical step toward correcting America’s fiscal course. By identifying waste, streamlining government functions and holding federal agencies accountable, DOGE is making the government work for the people, not against them.
Most importantly, DOGE operates with full transparency and reports directly to President Trump, ensuring that its mission aligns with the will of the American people.
I am grateful that we have a president willing to challenge the status quo — one who works with Congress to: grow the economy; unleash American energy dominance; reduce burdensome regulations; and identify cost-saving measures through DOGE.
If we fail to act now, America’s financial decline is inevitable.
By supporting DOGE and returning fiscal responsibility to Washington, we can preserve our nation’s economic future. The alternative — continuing our blind march toward financial ruin — is simply unacceptable.
U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker serves Pennsylvania’s 11th Congressional District, which includes Lancaster County and southern York County. He serves as vice chair of the House Budget Committee.
