Government Reform

Government reform policy addresses how the federal government is organized, what it spends, how efficiently it operates, and how it is held accountable to citizens. The federal government employs approximately 3 million civilian workers and spends roughly $6.8 trillion annually — generating persistent debates about waste, fraud, duplication, and whether agencies are accomplishing their missions effectively. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), established by executive order in January 2025 under Elon Musk's leadership, pursued sweeping cuts to federal agencies and the workforce — including large-scale layoffs, the elimination of USAID as an independent agency, and attempts to shut down the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Department of Education. These efforts sparked legal battles over the separation of powers and the limits of executive authority to unilaterally reshape agencies created by Congress. Budget deficits and the national debt — which now exceeds $36 trillion — drive recurring debates about fiscal sustainability, the role of automatic stabilizers like Social Security and Medicare, and the relative priority of defense vs. domestic spending. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and Government Accountability Office (GAO) provide independent analysis of spending and program effectiveness but their findings are not binding. Inspector general offices within agencies investigate waste and fraud; the Trump administration removed multiple inspectors general in early 2025, prompting legal challenges. Procurement reform — improving how the government buys goods and services — is a perennial focus for reformers across the political spectrum.