Athan Clark

Columnist

The announcement of plans for a Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy is nothing short of audacious, pairing two of the country’s most outspoken entrepreneurs in a bid to reshape the federal bureaucracy.

Their Wall Street Journal op-ed lays out a sweeping vision: cut waste, streamline agencies and leverage recent Supreme Court rulings to yank back regulatory overreach.

For skeptics, this may sound like a moonshot. But for reformers, it strikes at a central truth: the federal government is bloated, and Americans are paying the price. DOGE, Musk and Ramaswamy argue, could offer something rare in Washington—a mechanism to actually trim bureaucracy rather than expand it. The plan reflects a deep frustration with government inefficiency and speaks to an ethos many conservatives have long championed.

Yet, the question looms: Can they deliver?

J.D. Tuccille at Reason answers, “there’s no chance in hell.” Such skepticism underscores the enormity of the task before them. Musk and Ramaswamy’s DOGE seeks to audit every federal agency, rooting out redundant programs and eliminating wasteful spending. To be fair, government agencies are audited already. But there are no consequences for their poor decisions.

Beyond budget cuts, the initiative aims to leverage recent Supreme Court decisions that emphasize the separation of powers. It’s no secret that Federal agencies have, for decades, stretched their regulatory authority well beyond what Congress intended. This isn’t just about balance sheets. It’s a direct challenge to the administrative state — the vast, unelected bureaucracy that churns out rules often with little oversight. If successful, DOGE could reset the relationship between government and governed by reducing the footprint of the federal government.

At the state level, the potential implications may be profound. If DOGE is effective, many federal responsibilities could shift to the states, requiring Georgia to step up in areas long managed — or mismanaged — by Washington.

This would be a welcome shift. Georgia is positioned to thrive under a leaner federal government. The state has already madea lot of progress. The new Georgia Promise Scholarship Act exemplifies the state’s commitment to expanding educational opportunities and parental choice. Moreover, Georgia’s prudent fiscal management has resulted in a record budget surplus. And Georgia has long been known as one of the best states in the nation to do business. But they are still hampered by overreaching federal regulations. With increased autonomy and flexibility to address the unique needs of its residents and businesses, Georgia would have even greater opportunities to innovate.

Yet, the shift wouldn’t come without challenges. It’s worth noting that Musk and Ramaswamy are not the first to promise federal reform, and history offers plenty of cautionary tales.

For DOGE to succeed, its reforms must be bold but measured. While the inefficiencies of the federal government demand significant and decisive action, a radically aggressive approach carries significant risk. Musk and Ramaswamy are both visionaries with entrepreneurial records of both extraordinary successes and failures. Rather than pursuing sweeping changes all at once, DOGE would be wise to adopt a phased strategy that carefully evaluates the impact of each reform. Conservatives have long championed the value of stability, recognizing that tempered, reasonable approaches are essential to preserving order. While government reform is undeniably necessary, it must be pursued wisely to avoid destabilizing critical functions.

DOGE is a bold proposition. It challenges entrenched interests and offers an opportunity to rethink the role of the federal government in Americans’ lives. But the stakes are high, and execution will be everything.

Athan Clark is communications director for the Georgia Public Policy Foundation.