DOGE at a crossroads – An opportunity for real regulatory reform

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The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) began with a promise to revolutionize Washington, bringing a chainsaw to government with sweeping regulatory and budget cuts. However, the recent departure of Vivek Ramaswamy signals a shift in its trajectory and leaves Elon Musk as the dominant force in DOGE. Musk’s focus on technology has narrowed the scope of DOGE’s mission considerably, but there remains a chance to implement meaningful reforms under the Trump administration if action is taken quickly.
DOGE as it was originally conceived had a vision of dismantling the administrative state and instituting large-scale cuts to government spending and staffing, akin to Argentina’s dramatic reforms implemented under libertarian President Javier Milei. However, Musk’s preference for modernizing technology within the federal government seems to have won out over Ramaswamy’s vision for institutional reforms. Trump’s executive order officially creating DOGE established the US DOGE Service as a successor to the US Digital Service and focused its mission on software modernization, IT infrastructure upgrades, and data integrity across federal agencies, as opposed to regulatory and budget cuts.
This narrowing of DOGE’s responsibilities likely reflects its lack of a legislative mandate from Congress, which leaves it without the necessary powers to pursue more ambitious reforms. Without statutory authority, DOGE’s ability to implement far-reaching changes remains constrained by the boundaries of executive action.
Musk’s emphasis on technology, while perhaps valuable, risks sidelining broader reform efforts. Instead of attacking inefficiencies head-on, DOGE may now function primarily as a platform for tech upgrades. Dangerously, it might also serve as a mechanism for awarding software contracts to Musk’s and his Silicon Valley allies’ companies.
Despite these setbacks, there’s still an opportunity to resurrect DOGE’s original mandate in some form. The Trump administration should prioritize reviving successful regulatory policies from its first term, including the regulatory budget and the “one-in, two-out” policy, which required the elimination of two regulations for every new one added. These measures were instrumental in slowing the growth of federal rules and reducing compliance costs for businesses.
Additionally, a government-wide sunset process could ensure that outdated or unnecessary regulations automatically expire unless agencies make a compelling case to retain them. This approach, modeled after Idaho’s successful sunset review process, could streamline the regulatory code and boost innovation and growth.
The implementation of these reforms will likely depend on a strong vision from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). If Russell Vought is confirmed as OMB Director, he could champion these policies and provide the leadership needed to overcome Washington’s entrenched resistance to change.
Musk’s technology-driven agenda is no substitute for the bold regulatory reforms that many hoped DOGE would deliver. By resurrecting and expanding upon past successes, the Trump administration can seize this moment to advance a leaner, more efficient government. Time is of the essence though. The decisions made in the coming months will determine whether Trump fulfills his promises or his administration becomes just another missed opportunity.