Max Stier, President and CEO of the Partnership for Public Service, shares his extensive experience in federal government. He discusses the complexities of presidential transitions and emphasizes why tearing down government structures is counterproductive. Stier critiques current government reform initiatives, advocating for merit-based systems to combat inefficiency. He also offers valuable advice for new graduates pursuing public service careers, emphasizing the importance of passion and collaboration. Lastly, he highlights influential reads that shaped his commitment to civil service.
Max Stier emphasizes the importance of enhancing government efficiency by focusing on improving institutional capacity rather than dismantling existing structures.
The discussion highlights the challenges faced during presidential transitions, particularly under Trump, which affect governance and the integrity of democratic institutions.
Deep dives
Max Stier's Journey in Public Service
Max Stier's early experiences in Iowa shaped his passion for public service, emerging from growing up around political figures. His education at Yale fortified this interest, allowing him to blend disciplines such as history, literature, and philosophy while engaging in political activities. After various roles across the federal government, including at the Justice Department and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Stier founded the Partnership for Public Service to improve government efficiency. His career path underscores the significant influence that early political exposure and interdisciplinary study can have on a commitment to serving the public good.
The Role of the Partnership for Public Service
The Partnership for Public Service focuses on enhancing the effectiveness of government rather than merely proposing policies, setting it apart from traditional think tanks. Stier emphasizes the organization's mission revolves around improving the institutional capacity to execute policies, addressing the often-overlooked aspects of governance execution. This focus was born from Stier's realization that public interest in serving government had declined, thus motivating the formation of a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening democracy and better governance. The Partnership strives to be a trailblazer in fostering a culture of service and accountability amidst a landscape often characterized by partisan strife.
Challenges of Government Transitions
Stier discusses the unique difficulties of presidential transitions, highlighting issues stemming from both Trump administrations. In comparing Trump's first and second terms, he notes that the chaotic nature of directly implementing policies faced significant challenges due to institutional norms and civil servants. He underscores the lack of respect that Trump displayed towards the established process of transitioning power, which undermined the effectiveness of government execution during the transfer of authority. This struggle illustrates the broader implications of presidential leadership on governance and the sustainability of democratic institutions.
Concerns Regarding Government Reform
The current criticism of government being bloated and wasteful holds a critical truth, yet Stier warns that dismantling institutions could exacerbate the inefficiencies. He notes that reforms should prioritize modernization and improved accountability rather than indiscriminate cuts that harm effective governance and civil servants. Rather than addressing systemic issues, measures currently implemented have led to chaos, creating liabilities for taxpayers and eroding institutional integrity. Stier argues for a nuanced approach to reform, advocating for the enhancement of services and capacity rather than simply reducing headcount in a way that creates more waste.
Max Stier is President and CEO of the Partnership for Public Service. The Partnership has been widely praised as a thought leader on federal government management issues. Max has worked previously in all three branches of the federal government. Most recently, Max worked at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, having served as the Deputy General Counsel for Litigation. In this podcast, we discuss how Presidential transitions typically work, problems with Federal government, why tearing down government will not work, and much more.