The hottest Government Efficiency Substack posts right now

Trade protectionism in America is seen as central planning dressed up as economic nationalism. While manufacturing output has grown, employment in factories has declined.
There’s a push for better state capacity in government, but some argue it needs to focus on doing fewer things well rather than expanding into more areas.
Voters often make poor choices about policies. Scholars understand what's inefficient, but there’s a challenge in communicating that knowledge to the public.

Firing key employees can hurt government functions. Specialists who handle vital tasks, like managing nuclear arsenals, should not be let go without careful thought.
Treating employees poorly leads to distrust and resentment. If workers feel insecure or undervalued, they won’t be motivated to return if hired back.
Cutting agencies that collect taxes can weaken government. Reducing the IRS staff, for example, may benefit wealthy individuals while harming the government's ability to function effectively.

America's current debt situation is very concerning and lacks sustainable solutions. The debt is projected to keep rising if nothing changes. People need to be aware that just managing the debt isn't enough.
Creating a Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) could help address inefficiencies in government spending. This could potentially free up funds to invest in areas that would promote economic growth.
Governments can use debt to invest in the future, but they must do it wisely. If loans aren't used effectively, it can lead to rising inflation and more problems down the line.

Focus on improving the military and making it more competitive.
Consider annexing Greenland due to its resources and strategic importance.
Think about cutting down the number of federal agencies to reduce waste and spending.

DOGE seems to be making government processes more complicated, which can lead to less efficiency. Instead of streamlining things, they are adding new layers of rules.
Efforts to cut waste, fraud, and abuse might actually make things worse by creating more bureaucracy. It's often better to accept a little waste instead of drowning in paperwork.
There are already dedicated agencies that can help reduce waste without reinventing the wheel. It makes more sense to work with existing organizations to become efficient.

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Cutting a lot of government jobs might not really save much money. Most spending comes from bigger programs like Social Security and Medicare, not just employee salaries.
Firing workers randomly can hurt important services that people rely on. Instead of cutting jobs, we should focus on fixing how agencies work to make them more efficient.
There are better ways to improve government without just slashing budgets. Setting clear goals and using technology to make processes easier can lead to more meaningful changes.

Microsoft and Atom Computing are making big moves in quantum computing by using neutral atom processors to create stable computations. This could lead to real breakthroughs in things like medicine and cryptography.
Nabla Bio has created an AI platform that can design new antibodies from scratch, speeding up the process of developing new drugs. This means we could potentially treat more diseases faster and cheaper.
Starting in fall 2025, MIT will offer free tuition to students from families earning under $200,000, making education more accessible. This could help more talented students pursue important scientific and technical careers.

The U.S. federal budget has big structural problems, like an aging population and increasing debt, making it hard to balance spending and revenue.
Most of the budget goes to a few major areas like Social Security and healthcare, which are expected to grow, so simply cutting discretionary spending won't solve the deficit issue.
Fixing these budget problems requires more than just efficiency cuts; it needs serious changes in laws and policies that are hard to achieve without widespread agreement.

The NIH has changed its funding policy, now limiting indirect costs to 15%, which could hurt research universities.
States heavily reliant on federal grants, especially Republican states, might face large funding losses due to these new caps.
Federal workers emphasize their significant roles in society, sharing personal stories that highlight their contributions to public safety and welfare.

The National Parks Service is a successful government program that shows government can work well.
National Parks Service has a clear mission and funding that leads to exceeding expectations and building a better society.
The NPS is effective, with high visitation rates, economic benefits, and professional services that showcase the value of government programs.

Property taxes can make it harder for people to buy homes and can lead to higher rents, which actually doesn't help affordability. Since buyers have to consider the extra tax costs, it may not really lower home prices as expected.
Higher property taxes discourage builders from constructing new homes, which reduces the overall housing supply. If building a house becomes less appealing due to taxes, fewer homes are available, causing more competition and higher prices.
Switching from property taxes to other forms of taxation, like sales taxes on homes, could be less disruptive. Using different taxes may help generate revenue without hurting both sellers and buyers as much as property taxes do.