Small-Government Conservatives Should Give DOGE a Chance

Washington: So, President-elect Trump just announced this new thing called DOGE, which stands for the “Department of Government Efficiency.” It’s got a lot of conservatives scratching their heads. You’d think a plan to cut down on government waste and red tape would be right up their alley, but many are rolling their eyes instead. Interestingly, some left-leaning lawmakers seem more open to the idea, even wanting to streamline defense spending.

We get the skepticism, though. Remember David Stockman? He tried cutting spending back in the ’80s and found out that people actually liked their government perks. Trump himself has been all about those growing deficits and didn’t want to rock the boat with spending cuts while in office. Plus, there’s a whole army of lobbyists ready to defend every subsidy out there. So, for some, DOGE looks like just another flashy idea that won’t go anywhere.

But here’s the thing: being cynical about it might just backfire. Not long ago, nobody in D.C. was even talking about cutting federal programs. Now, with DOGE, the conversation is shifting. Musk and Ramaswamy are out there talking about the deficit and federal spending, flexing their political muscles. So why not give them a chance before dismissing their efforts?

If there’s even a tiny chance that DOGE could actually do something meaningful, it’s worth small-government folks investing their time and energy into it. The potential benefits could be huge—like really cutting down the size of the federal government.

And what’s the worst that could happen? Even if DOGE doesn’t pan out, it’s already getting people talking about cutting programs and privatizing services. That’s a step in the right direction, and it’s reaching a lot of people, thanks to Musk’s massive following on social media.

That’s why a group of us at Cato decided to put together a report with recommendations for DOGE. We came up with 23 chapters detailing spending cuts that could match Musk’s ambitious goal of $2 trillion a year, along with big changes in areas like energy and finance. We’re not afraid to tackle tough issues, even suggesting defense cuts that might ruffle some feathers.

Right now, though, there’s a lot of uncertainty about what DOGE will actually do. Some insiders want it to play it safe, just putting together a report on government waste. Sure, that’s fine, but if DOGE only focuses on minor inefficiencies, it’ll just become a fancy cleaning service for a government that keeps getting bigger.

To really make a difference, DOGE needs to think big. The federal government is so bloated that it’s full of contradictions. One part is subsidizing unhealthy foods while another is promoting nutrition. It’s a mess! You can’t fix that with just a few tweaks here and there. Real efficiency means cutting back on what the government does in the first place.

Our main point in the report is that DOGE can do two things: help the Office of Management and Budget find waste and also push Congress to pass laws that shrink the government.

We want to give DOGE some solid policies to consider. For years, politicians have talked about cutting waste while spending has just gone up. Our report lays out specific proposals that could help balance the budget and free up the economy from unnecessary regulations. The idea is simple: cut out what’s not needed and streamline what’s left.

These recommendations should resonate with small-government conservatives. First, we need to stick to what the Constitution allows. That means giving a lot of power back to the states and shrinking the federal government’s reach in areas like education and energy.

Second, we need to deregulate as much as possible. DOGE shouldn’t waste time on minor regulatory changes. Instead, it should aim for sweeping deregulation to get everyone on board. New technologies should be allowed to grow without unnecessary restrictions.

Also, DOGE should encourage Congress to limit new regulations. By putting time limits on regulations, it forces Congress to revisit these powers regularly. There’s a bill called the REINS Act that would require Congress to approve any major new regulation, and it’s passed the House several times.

When it comes to spending, the case for cutting back is clear. We need to tackle our unsustainable debt. Most government spending is harmful to the economy, so cutting it back could actually help growth in the long run. Even if Trump isn’t keen on cutting entitlements, DOGE could start to chip away at support for various subsidies.

And let’s not forget about taxes. While it might not be the top priority for DOGE, it’s something that can’t be ignored. Many tax cuts from the Trump era are set to expire soon, and the tax code is full of special-interest giveaways. It’s time to get rid of those and focus on fair, low-rate taxation.

All of this should go hand in hand with genuine efficiency measures. Upgrading technology and eliminating duplicate agencies is great, but it should all serve the bigger goal of cutting down the size of government. Otherwise, we’re just making it harder to resist an already overbearing state.

We know this kind of sweeping reform won’t happen overnight, and Congress might not be on board. But that doesn’t mean we should just sit back and complain about how hard it is to shrink government.

Politics can be surprising. Major legislation has come out of nowhere before, and it’s possible that DOGE could do the same.

Plus, with a more originalist judiciary and a tech-savvy group heading to Washington, the timing might be right for some real change.

Even though DOGE’s mission is ambitious and controversial, if some left-leaning lawmakers see potential here, surely small-government advocates can step in with their ideas to help make it a success.

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