Government Efficiency (4 Viewers)

[RobF]

I think this topic deserves its own thread, both to discuss generally the topic of government efficiency, and specifically the so-called 'Department of Government Efficiency' and the incoming Trump administration's aims to "dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures and restructure Federal Agencies".

The announcements have been covered in the The Trump Cabinet and key post thread, but to recap, Trump has announced that Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will work together on a not-actually-an-official-government-Department of Government Efficiency, which is intended to work with the White House and Office of Management & Budget to "drive large scale structural reform, and create an entrepreneurial approach to Government never seen before," with the 'Department' to conclude its work "no later than July 4, 2026."

Musk has previously said that the federal budget could be reduced by "at least $2 trillion", and Ramaswarmy, during his presidential campaign, said he would fire more than 75% of the federal work force and disband agencies including the Department of Education and the FBI.

 

[superchuck500]

The lawyers in the case over the OPM mass emailing system have moved the court to sanction the government over its representations that the system was voluntary citing the new “tell us what you did” over public threat.

 

[Lapaz]

Government having bigger roles in everything…don’t know about that.

Since, in the case of Medicaid, government monies are used but private insurance is the provider and private sector fingerprints appear everywhere the WF&A meme applies very specifically to the private sector. We see the same in government contracts with the private sector elsewhere.

I am not naive enough to believe that the so-called “Golden Age of Capitalism” which was the post-war era occurred in a vacuum. The U.S. economy stood astride a ruined world. That being said regulations made the age much more balanced in terms of the benefits flowing fairly evenly. Of course, women and other minorities shared less and in some cases not at all but the concept is still the same. The presence of government modifies the behavior of wealth/capital.

Do we need the government growing crops or building housing? No. Do we need government to make sure crops aren’t poisoning people or that homes are built safely? Absolutely.

The private sector is ALWAYS the biggest source of waste, fraud and abuse. The idea that the private sector does anything better than the public sector is a myth. Waste as opposed to the other two does occur in government but it is not a characteristic of government. Imo, it is a characteristic in the private sector particularly the larger the entity and the higher the potential reward.

I think the private sector is definitely part of fraud and abuse, but they tend to cut waste better. Government employees aren’t motivated to commit fraud and abuse, but will he lazier about trimming waste. The market will eliminate wasteful companies better than regulators eliminate wasteful programs. I agree that the ideal model would be a mix of public and private sectors, but it is a myth that privatizing will eliminate waste, fraud and abuse better without a healthy public sector. China is advancing fast using their public model. I don’t advocate that, but when the public sector is being demonized, we should point out that the public sector can be superior, and we certainly should defend a healthy public sector.

 

[coldseat]

I think the private sector is definitely part of fraud and abuse, but they tend to cut waste better. Government employees aren’t motivated to commit fraud and abuse, but will he lazier about trimming waste. The market will eliminate wasteful companies better than regulators eliminate wasteful programs. I agree that the ideal model would be a mix of public and private sectors, but it is a myth that privatizing will eliminate waste, fraud and abuse better without a healthy public sector. China is advancing fast using their public model. I don’t advocate that, but when the public sector is being demonized, we should point out that the public sector can be superior, and we certainly should defend a healthy public sector.

A private company running a government program will have just as much waste as the government running it because the incentives will be the same. The best way to remove waste in government programs is for Congress to do its job responsibly, empower Inspector Generals and have regular audits.

Fraud on the other hand is almost always a function of private companies or individuals trying to steel money from the government through the programs it runs. So when you have a private company running a government program, not only does waste exist, you also have a much higher chance/occurrence of fraud.

 

[Lapaz]

This guy is a forking psychopath. Agencies have instructed their staff not to respond. OPM doesn't have chain of command to order agency staff to do substantive work. Musk doesn't have any authority over any of this - and tweets are not government policy.

Undeterred by any of "that's not how it works", Elon is threatening.

Federal workers that are affected should file a 300 billion dollar class action suit against Voldemusk.

 

[Optimus Prime]

While addressing the press with Prime Minister Macron, in response to a question about the latest email Musk sent federal workers, Trump said they've uncovered "hundreds of billions of dollars of fraud so far, and we've just started."

An absurd claim that he can't possibly back up.

Someone posted a bit ago a clip of a reporter saying that fraud is a crime and asked these crimes have been reported and when we will see charges and indictments

Whoever was being interviewed basically said it was a 'gotcha' question

 

[Optimus Prime]

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon on Monday said the U.S. government is inefficient and in need of work as the Trump administration terminates thousands of federal employees and works to dismantle agencies including the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Dimon was asked by CNBC’s Leslie Picker whether he supported efforts by Elon Musk’s advisory body, the Department of Government Efficiency. He declined to give what he called a “binary” response, but made comments that supported the overall effort.

“The government is inefficient, not very competent, and needs a lot of work,” Dimon told Picker. “It’s not just waste and fraud, it’s outcomes.”

The Trump administration’s effort to rein in spending and scrutinize federal agencies “needs to be done,” Dimon added.

“Why are we spending the money on these things? Are we getting what we deserve? What should we change?” Dimon said. “It’s not just about the deficit, its about building the right policies and procedures and the government we deserve.”

Dimon said if DOGE overreaches with its cost-cutting efforts or engages in activity that’s not legal, “the courts will stop it.”

“I’m hoping it’s quite successful,” he said................

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/02/24/jamie-dimon-us-government-inefficient-touts-elon-musk-doge-effort.html

 

[TampaJoe]

I think the private sector is definitely part of fraud and abuse, but they tend to cut waste better. Government employees aren’t motivated to commit fraud and abuse, but will he lazier about trimming waste. The market will eliminate wasteful companies better than regulators eliminate wasteful programs. I agree that the ideal model would be a mix of public and private sectors, but it is a myth that privatizing will eliminate waste, fraud and abuse better without a healthy public sector. China is advancing fast using their public model. I don’t advocate that, but when the public sector is being demonized, we should point out that the public sector can be superior, and we certainly should defend a healthy public sector.

The public sector’s job is to regulate. Not run. However, in certain functions, like entitlements, those services are necessary and deemed to be in the public interest. However, there need to be controls in place to insure those programs run efficiently. There is a role for government to play and a role for the private sector to play. It doesn’t have to be all one or the other. There is a balance to be had and that balance may vary program to program. But IMO there needs to be an attitude of continuous improvement in all these processes both public and private. The operating and cost environment is constantly changing in both the public and private sector. Nothing stays the same. Both the private and public sector need to adapt to those changes in order to remain viable and efficient.

 

[Incumbent]

Someone posted a bit ago a clip of a reporter saying that fraud is a crime and if these crimes have been reported and when we will see charges and indictments

Whoever was being interviewed basically said it was a 'gotcha' question

Great that the question was asked and a shame knowing that the dismissal will play well to the people who support this reckless dismantling of the federal government.

 

[efil4]

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon on Monday said the U.S. government is inefficient and in need of work as the Trump administration terminates thousands of federal employees and works to dismantle agencies including the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Dimon was asked by CNBC’s Leslie Picker whether he supported efforts by Elon Musk’s advisory body, the Department of Government Efficiency. He declined to give what he called a “binary” response, but made comments that supported the overall effort.

“The government is inefficient, not very competent, and needs a lot of work,” Dimon told Picker. “It’s not just waste and fraud, it’s outcomes.”

The Trump administration’s effort to rein in spending and scrutinize federal agencies “needs to be done,” Dimon added.

“Why are we spending the money on these things? Are we getting what we deserve? What should we change?” Dimon said. “It’s not just about the deficit, its about building the right policies and procedures and the government we deserve.”

Dimon said if DOGE overreaches with its cost-cutting efforts or engages in activity that’s not legal, “the courts will stop it.”

“I’m hoping it’s quite successful,” he said................

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/02/24/jamie-dimon-us-government-inefficient-touts-elon-musk-doge-effort.html

LOL "...procedures and the government WE deserve"

Who is "we" Jamie?

Multi Millionaire CEOs like yourself, or the $60,000/yr teacher?

 

[Optimus Prime]

Great that the question was asked and a shame knowing that the dismissal will play well to the people who support this reckless dismantling of the federal government.

I’d ask every time they mention all the fraud they are uncovering

 

[efil4]

 

[DaveXA]

What is the justification for this?

 

[MT15]

Someone posted a bit ago a clip of a reporter saying that fraud is a crime and asked these crimes have been reported and when we will see charges and indictments

Whoever was being interviewed basically said it was a 'gotcha' question

That was the new Press Secretary Barbie (or at least the clip I saw). She’s pretty clueless even for Trump’s Press Secretaries.

 

[efil4]

What is the justification for this?

didnt see any- im guessing part of the downsizing - not sure what "federal agency" they were a part of.

 

[TampaJoe]

That was the new Press Secretary Barbie (or at least the clip I saw). She’s pretty clueless even for Trump’s Press Secretaries.

Maybe she needs a binder?

 

[efil4]

Maybe she needs a binder?

im sure her binder would be exactly like this one - delivered by Kayleigh ( then Press Sec ) for Trumps Healthcare plan.

Empty. lol.

 

[superchuck500]

 

[MT15]

Maybe she needs a binder?

Like the last Trump Barbie had? The one who wore a prominent cross around her neck and lied her arse off?