On Jan. 20, President Trump issued an executive order to create the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The executive order claims the purpose of this department was “to implement the President’s DOGE Agenda, by modernizing Federal technology and software to maximize governmental efficiency and productivity.” In theory, this concept makes sense. The government could be more efficient, reduce spending and modernize its technology to increase productivity. This is not the craziest idea and could even have been something that greatly benefited the federal government. However, in reality, this department’s implementation has been a disaster, focused on slashing major programs without thought of consequences, rather than an actual effort to make the government more efficient.
The United States government is in a lot of debt, and that does not seem to be changing. For the past several years, the federal government has been running a deficit of over one trillion dollars. We’re now at a point where the federal debt has topped 35 trillion dollars. This is a clear issue and stems from a lack of fiscal responsibility from the federal government. So a president coming in and creating a department focused on making the government more efficient is not the worst idea in addressing this issue.
One department that DOGE has focused on making cuts in is the Department of Education. Recently there was a $900 million cut from the “Education Department’s Institute of Education Sciences”. This cut limits the research being done on the U.S. education system and the outcomes it creates and will hinder the ability of the Department of Education to make the education system as effective as possible. Such a cut comes at a time when “more countries are edging ahead of the United States in math and science achievement” according to EducationWeek.
Another area DOGE has focused on is the National Institute of Health (NIH). This policy “would limit NIH research funding for “indirect costs,” or overhead expenses, to 15%, which is far below what some institutions receive.” This is a cut that would disrupt research activities across the country. This is a bold move, especially given President Trump has issued an executive order to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization. Research is what helps us to build knowledge and develop as a society, and health research in particular is extremely important. Cutting this funding hurts the institutions that conduct this vital research.
DOGE has also worked to cut the United States Aid Agency. The Trump administration has more or less destroyed the agency, reducing “the number of workers… from more than 10,000 to about 290 positions.” Assuming these cuts get past the legal challenges they are facing, they will cause issues and disruptions with the aid that the United States provides to other countries, including HIV prevention and treatment and helping provide food to the hungry. It is also important to consider how cutting this aid will be perceived by other countries and the impact it could have on the rest of the world’s perception of the United States.
Education, health research and aid to other countries are three very important initiatives that DOGE focuses on cutting. While there is likely an argument that these institutions may need to be more efficient, or that their funding could be cut, to make major cuts in this manner makes absolutely no sense. Health research is important. Education is important. And helping other countries and maintaining our standing in the world is important. But right now, DOGE is focused on making massive cuts to all of these sectors. The government can be more efficient, and it should be. However, it’s not going to happen by making massive cuts to essential programs. Unfortunately, it seems that DOGE took what could have been a good idea to help the country and turned it into a force for dramatic budget cuts for important departments and agencies within the federal government.