When Elon Musk pulled out a chainsaw on TV and discussed reducing government spending, it stirred mixed reactions among Americans. However, both sides failed to address the core issue of governmental inefficiency and its resolution.

Musk’s recent shift in attitude, emphasizing the importance of caution and precision, hints that even the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is recognizing this fundamental lesson. Firing probationary employees without understanding their roles exposed the consequences of bureaucratic inefficiency and briefly jeopardized vital government functions.

As a two-decade federal employee, I observed impressive government achievements alongside frustrating inefficiencies. While notable accomplishments were made through agencies like the National Institutes of Health and the FAA, wasteful practices stemmed not from a lack of effort but from burdensome systems that have piled up over time as cumbersome red tape obstructing progress.

An example of the absurdity of government inefficiency is comparable to a family demanding payment for every interaction between siblings, leading to chaos and unnecessary expenditures. The intricate billing agreements within the government mirror this, such as charging agencies “rent” for office space they already own, creating convoluted bureaucratic processes through which funds are needlessly shuffled.

One proposed solution involves the elimination of the General Services Administration (GSA) and mandating federal agencies to share resources without financial transactions between them. This revision would initially cause some disruption but would result in significant cost savings, reducing billions in administrative expenses and fostering heightened collaboration between agencies.

Moreover, certain governmental reforms implemented in previous years under the guise of efficiency, like the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993, have backfired, imposing burdensome reporting requirements on employees and diverting valuable time and resources toward recording inconsequential data.

Eliminating these inefficient systems could save hundreds of billions of dollars annually, redirecting the focus of government workers to delivering valuable public services rather than producing unread reports. By enacting additional reforms and updating outdated practices, such as discouraging wasteful expenditures at the end of the fiscal year, modernizing the Census, and eliminating unnecessary printing costs, the government could save up to a trillion dollars without cutting essential services.

Through a strategic campaign against bureaucratic red tape, DOGE could spearhead a reform that unites the nation rather than dividing it, marking a truly transformative moment in American government.