In his second term, US President Donald Trump has made federal governance reforms a core focus of his ‘Make America Great Again’ (MAGA) agenda.
Trump established the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), appointing his close ally Elon Musk to lead it.
The department aims to downsize various federal agencies, streamline operations, and enhance cost-effectiveness, with Musk given full authority to implement changes.
Trump has been endorsing Musk’s decisions by issuing Executive Orders, further validating DOGE’s efforts.
Efficiency And Downsizing: A New Approach
The core idea behind DOGE’s reform is to improve efficiency, defined as output per resource, money, and manpower.
The department aims to achieve this by reducing the number of employees in government roles and streamlining operational processes.
By trimming down unnecessary steps in tasks, DOGE hopes to improve both speed and cost-effectiveness across the federal government.
India’s Similarities with US President Trump’s Reform Efforts
India’s history with Administrative Reforms Commissions (ARCs) often involved lengthy reports that failed to produce lasting change. In contrast, Prime Minister Modi’s call for ‘minimum government, maximum governance’ aligns closely with the reforms currently being implemented by DOGE in the United States.
However, the aggressive nature of these reforms, including large-scale layoffs, has sparked controversy.
Critics have challenged several of DOGE’s decisions in District Courts, but the Trump Administration remains confident, pushing cases through the Court of Appeals and even the Supreme Court.
US President Trump Administration Focus Education & Health
Two key areas of concern for any democratic government, education and health, are among the first to be targeted by DOGE for downsizing.
On March 12, nearly 50% of the Department of Education’s workforce was laid off. On March 20, Trump signed an Executive Order to dismantle the department altogether.
He criticized the department for being ‘wasteful’ and ‘polluted by liberal ideology’, and argued that the federal government’s control over education has failed to meet the needs of children, teachers, and families.
Trump also directed the Treasury Department to take over the management of student loans, removing this responsibility from the Department of Education.
Additionally, the Trump Administration has already launched federal actions against Ivy League schools like Columbia and Harvard for alleged harassment of Jewish students and has suspended research grants to Princeton University.
Civil Rights Concerns And Education Reform
Civil rights groups have expressed concerns that these cuts could lead to civil rights violations, particularly in schools.
Established in 1979, the Department of Education monitors student loans, oversees public school funding, and runs programs for low-income students.
Trump has claimed that the department indoctrinates young people with ‘racial and political material’, further fueling the debate.
Health Department Reform And Layoffs
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), announced significant internal changes within the department.
He plans to reduce its 28 divisions to just 15 through mergers, signaling that mass layoffs will follow.
This will cut the department’s full-time workforce by 25%, saving an estimated $1.8 billion annually.
Kennedy has also accused ‘defiant bureaucrats’ of impeding efforts to access important health data, further driving the push for reform.
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