The hottest Public Administration Substack posts right now

A book titled 'Control: The Global Rise and Coming Fall of Managerial Tyranny' is coming soon. It will be an expanded version of previous work on managerialism.
The Substack will be paused indefinitely while the author takes a senior policy role at the State Department. Subscription payments are frozen, but the content will remain accessible.
The author feels it's important to take action in today's world rather than just discuss issues. They hope to return to writing in the future.

Reorganizing the government can make it more efficient by reducing the number of management layers and clarifying who is in charge. This could lead to better decision-making and less wasted effort.
Creating a Chief Operating Officer to manage executive branch operations would help streamline authority and reduce overlap between agencies. This would allow a focus on running the government smoothly.
The government could be simplified by cutting down from many agencies to just eight main ones, which would help eliminate redundancy and make it easier to manage services for the public.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) employs a large team focused on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), costing taxpayers around $38.7 million each year. This effort includes 294 employees dedicated to creating equitable healthcare practices.
The term 'equity' appears frequently in HHS' budget, showing a strong emphasis on promoting fairness in health services, especially for underserved communities. This includes funding diverse healthcare initiatives and outreach programs.
Federal agencies, like HHS, are combining DEI efforts with traditional civil rights initiatives. This blending can create confusion about how equity policies impact equal treatment in health and employment, leading to potential legal challenges.

Making interviews for SNAP more flexible can help more people get the benefits they need. When applicants can choose when to interview, like calling in at their convenience, they are more likely to complete the process.
Reducing procedural denials is important because many people get turned away not due to ineligibility, but because they miss the required interview. By making interviews easier, agencies can save time and money while helping people access food assistance.
Flexible interviews have already shown success in cities like Los Angeles and Boulder, where approval rates increased and benefits were received faster. This shows that small changes in the process can significantly improve access to support for those in need.

Governments often miss problems because they focus too narrowly on specific issues, ignoring bigger trends. This makes it hard to spot similar mistakes across different areas of policy.
When the government tries to cut support in one area, it often leads to increased demand for even more expensive services elsewhere. For example, reducing GP appointments has pushed more people to hospital emergency services.
Fixing these problems is tough because once people adapt to new habits, changing them back is hard. To really improve services, governments need to think more broadly and learn from past mistakes.

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The government needs to rethink how it manages construction and infrastructure projects, possibly shifting oversight to agencies like the Department of Defense for better efficiency.
We should consider changing the Department of Transportation to a Department of Mobility to reflect current needs and focus on how people move rather than just transportation modes.
There’s a call to rethink funding approaches, possibly allowing states more control over their infrastructure budgets, which could help create discussions about the importance of federal support for these projects.

Jessica Tisch is the new NYPD commissioner and is unlike any previous commissioner because she has no traditional law enforcement background and is a Harvard graduate. This is a big change in how the police department is led.
Tisch has significant power because she comes from a wealthy family and does not rely on political support from Mayor Adams, who is in a shaky position. Her wealth means she can act independently and is not easily challenged.
There are many questions about Tisch's vision for policing in New York. While she has the freedom to make changes, her approach to law enforcement and her future ambitions remain unclear.

Developing policies like the Child Tax Credit can mirror elements of Milton Friedman's negative income tax, demonstrating the challenges of passing sweeping policies.
Advocates propose refocusing on programs like the Child Tax Credit rather than a more universal approach, citing potential benefits and fewer political obstacles.
Considering alternative approaches like total income phase-out (TIP) for welfare programs could offer new paths forward without requiring immediate program repeals.

Prices show us what's scarce and push us to change our behaviors. They aren't just random numbers—they have meaning.
When something gets more expensive, people usually try to find a cheaper alternative. Higher costs lead to less demand.
Every choice we make comes with trade-offs. If we spend on one thing, we might have to give up something else.

Zero-based budgeting in Anhui means starting from zero each year rather than using last year's budget as a base. This change helps focus on the actual needs and priorities of programs.
During the budgeting process, Anhui discovered many overlapping policies and wasteful spending practices. This shows there was a lack of coordination between different departments.
The reform aims to reduce ineffective spending and improve efficiency, which includes cutting unnecessary policies and reallocating funds to areas that need it the most.