

DOGE 1.0 (with David Osborne)
13 snips Dec 20, 2024
David Osborne, director emeritus of the Reinventing America’s Schools Project and former senior advisor to Al Gore, discusses the proposed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) backed by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. He compares it to Clinton's reform efforts and examines the difficulties of implementing efficiency in federal processes. Osborne highlights challenges in workforce management, the role of Congress, and the importance of GAO in driving accountability. Their conversation sheds light on the complex landscape of governmental reform and public sector challenges.
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Reinventing Government
- David Osborne published "Reinventing Government" in 1992, influencing the Clinton administration.
- He advised Al Gore on the National Performance Review, improving federal bureaucracy.
Partial Success, Congressional Hurdles
- The Clinton-Gore administration achieved partial success, saving billions and shrinking the federal workforce.
- Congressional lack of understanding and interest in bureaucratic management hindered broader reform.
Civil Service Protection
- Firing federal employees is legally complex, potentially taking two years due to civil service laws.
- Federal managers avoid lengthy firing processes, leading to accumulated "deadwood" in the bureaucracy.