The hottest Government Efficiency Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top U.S. Politics Topics
Can We Still Govern? β€’ 569 implied HN points β€’ 16 Feb 25
  1. Firing key employees can hurt government functions. Specialists who handle vital tasks, like managing nuclear arsenals, should not be let go without careful thought.
  2. Treating employees poorly leads to distrust and resentment. If workers feel insecure or undervalued, they won’t be motivated to return if hired back.
  3. 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.
The Good Science Project β€’ 152 implied HN points β€’ 06 Feb 25
  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
Letters from an American β€’ 28 implied HN points β€’ 09 Feb 25
  1. The NIH has changed its funding policy, now limiting indirect costs to 15%, which could hurt research universities.
  2. States heavily reliant on federal grants, especially Republican states, might face large funding losses due to these new caps.
  3. Federal workers emphasize their significant roles in society, sharing personal stories that highlight their contributions to public safety and welfare.
The Save Journalism Committee β€’ 309 implied HN points β€’ 18 Nov 24
  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
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The Good Science Project β€’ 167 implied HN points β€’ 20 Nov 24
  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
Not Boring by Packy McCormick β€’ 111 implied HN points β€’ 29 Nov 24
  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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 Last Bear Standing β€’ 74 implied HN points β€’ 15 Nov 24
  1. The U.S. federal budget has big structural problems, like an aging population and increasing debt, making it hard to balance spending and revenue.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
JoeWrote β€’ 29 implied HN points β€’ 26 Sep 23
  1. The National Parks Service is a successful government program that shows government can work well.
  2. National Parks Service has a clear mission and funding that leads to exceeding expectations and building a better society.
  3. The NPS is effective, with high visitation rates, economic benefits, and professional services that showcase the value of government programs.