• Economy
  • Editor’s Pick
Money Rise Today – Investing and Stock News
  • Investing
  • Stock
Editor's Pick

As Musk exits DOGE, a look back at previous efforts to cut waste, fraud and abuse – and how they fared

by June 2, 2025
written by June 2, 2025

As Elon Musk steps away from his official role at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), he joins a history of presidential administrations that have attempted to streamline government – with mixed results.

While former Presidents Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson and Grover Cleveland all tried to downsize the judiciary, treasury and civil service, respectively, it wasn’t until the 20th century that the federal government grew into the bureaucratic behemoth it is that has drawn true DOGE-type attention.

Though often seen as the bigger spenders, some Democrats joined Republicans in the 1990s to shrink the size of government and make it more accountable to taxpayers.

‘We know big government does not have all the answers,’ former President Bill Clinton said during his 1996 State of the Union.

‘We know there’s not a program for every problem. We have worked to give the American people a smaller, less bureaucratic government in Washington – and we have to give the American people one that lives within its means.’

‘The era of big government is over,’ he said, in a phrase that had largely been considered the closest emulation of DOGE thought until Musk arrived on the scene.

Clinton also sought welfare reform and emphasized personal responsibility over dependency on the state.

The Arkansan also called for slashing the bureaucracy by 200,000 jobs and worked with then-House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., to balance the federal budget.

President Donald Trump’s efforts to do the same have received a very different response from the left.

Clinton, working with congressional Republicans – while also frequently sparring with them – was able to reduce the federal workforce somewhat and establish a budget surplus but also failed to realize entitlement reform, something that more recent fiscal hawks have also struggled with.

Clinton won his 1992 upset as a centrist, after incumbent Republican George H.W. Bush was lambasted for reneging on his ‘Read my lips – no new taxes’ pledge, with a statistical boost from industrialist independent H. Ross Perot, who won the votes of many erstwhile Bush supporters.

Clinton and then-Vice President Al Gore established a National Performance Review (NPR) that drew some parallels to today’s DOGE, and cut the bureaucracy to 1960s levels.

Bill Clinton went on to win re-election over otherwise popular GOP stalwart Sen. Bob Dole, of Kansas, in 1996.

In 1980, actor-turned-California Gov. Ronald Reagan took the White House with promises similar to another celebrity-turned-politician who would do the same 36 years later.

The Gipper did not succeed in abolishing the Department of Education – created only a few years prior by President Jimmy Carter – something Trump has also sought.

But, he reinvigorated a new generation of conservatives who still praise him for slashing income taxes, seeking to ‘starve the beast’ via forced discretionary-spending cuts, and took on public-sector unions when he essentially won a dare against air traffic controllers who went on strike by firing them all and prohibiting their rehiring.

Reagan’s closest iteration of DOGE was the 1982 Grace Commission, studying cost-cutting and efficiency – and led by Maryland chemical executive J. Peter Grace along with dozens of ‘commissioners’ plucked from the private sector.

In the executive order creating the Grace Commission, it was tasked with examining ‘the entire federal government for areas of inefficiency, mismanagement and waste, and to recommend savings without raising taxes or cutting essential services.’

Within its three-year lifespan, the commission reported $424 billion in savings, including waste, fraud, abuse, over payments to government vendors and billions in unpaid taxes.

Reagan, however, faced the same resistance from the proverbial ‘Swamp’ in trying to implement the commission’s findings.

‘We’re not trying to hurt anyone. But the American taxpayer is being ripped off,’ Grace said at the time.

While ushered in as a conservative pragmatist, Reagan’s later years saw budget deficits grow, and the national debt more than double. The Dow also lost nearly one-quarter of its value on ‘Black Monday,’ Oct. 19, 1987.

The other contemporary president known for trying to ‘DOGE’ government was Texas Democrat Lyndon Johnson. LBJ was known for rapidly expanding government through his ‘Great Society’ social programs but also took aim at streamlining the Pentagon and Defense apparatus.

Efforts at the Pentagon largely failed, as the ongoing Vietnam War also accentuated costly balance sheets.

Defense Secretary Robert McNamara, a Kennedy holdover and former Ford Motor Company chief, was employed to make changes at the Pentagon.

He instituted what was called the Planning Programming Budgeting System, which sought to bring a more streamlined approach to managing the Pentagon’s budget.

However, the vast size of the defense bureaucracy – along with resistance from some military leaders – undermined the effectiveness of Johnson’s and McNamara’s reform efforts.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
0 comment
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

previous post
Polish conservative Karol Nawrocki wins presidential election to succeed Duda
next post
Fetterman, McCormick react to ‘astonishing’ Boulder attack on pro-Israel group: ‘Rank antisemitism’

related articles

Expert speaks out on ‘perfect solution’ to federal...

June 4, 2025

Energy groups celebrate Trump’s latest move to unleash...

June 4, 2025

GOP senators express ‘concerns,’ ‘skepticism’ over Trump’s spending...

June 3, 2025

Trump to host thousands of admin officials for...

June 3, 2025

Federal judge rules against Trump order halting sex...

June 3, 2025

South Korea flips left in presidential race; Lee...

June 3, 2025

White House stands by tax bill after Musk...

June 3, 2025

Trump and Melania to headline power-player packed Kennedy...

June 3, 2025

House Dems urge GOP to condemn DHS for...

June 3, 2025

Trump criticizes Rand Paul over tax bill opposition:...

June 3, 2025
Enter Your Information Below To Receive Free Trading Ideas, Latest News, And Articles.


Your information is secure and your privacy is protected. By opting in you agree to receive emails from us. Remember that you can opt-out any time, we hate spam too!

Latest News

  • Millionaires could see rate hike in Trump agenda bill, House GOP tax writer says

    April 29, 2025
  • Boeing to cut 17,000 jobs as losses deepen during factory strike

    October 14, 2024
  • EURAUD and EURNZD: EURNZD is rising to a two-month high

    July 16, 2024
  • Dem senator says ‘no doubt’ Biden declined cognitively during presidency

    May 15, 2025
  • Trump’s granddaughter Kai shares vlog of family celebration on election night: ‘Extremely proud’

    November 12, 2024

Popular Posts

  • 1

    Secret Service admits leaning on ‘state and local partners’ after claim it ignored Trump team’s past requests

    July 21, 2024
  • 2

    Elon and Vivek should tackle US funding for this boondoogle organization and score a multimillion dollar win

    December 4, 2024
  • 3

    Forex Profit Calculator: Maximize Your Trading Potential

    July 10, 2024
  • 4

    Five more House Democrats call on Biden to drop out, third US senator

    July 19, 2024
  • 5

    Biden calls to ‘lower the temperature’ then bashes Trump in NAACP speech

    July 17, 2024

Categories

  • Economy (829)
  • Editor's Pick (4,788)
  • Investing (624)
  • Stock (782)

Latest Posts

  • Republicans to huddle behind close doors to elect McConnell’s successor Wednesday

    November 13, 2024
  • Netanyahu says ‘leftist Deep State’ in Israel, US weaponizes justice system against strong right wing leaders

    March 19, 2025
  • ‘Overblown’ reports on Israel-Lebanon normalization risk hindering border talks before they begin: official

    March 12, 2025

Recent Posts

  • I’m a physician and I’m worried that our health agencies are facing increasing chaos

    May 30, 2025
  • FBI must release Mar-a-Lago probe records despite Trump’s criminal immunity: judge

    February 11, 2025
  • As Joann Fabrics and JCPenney announce store closings, here’s what’s driving the pattern

    February 17, 2025

Editor’s Pick

  • Trump DOJ investigating Biden-era pardons amid concerns over state of mind

    June 3, 2025
  • Harris-Trump cash dash: Former president looks to flip script with fundraising swing in oil country

    September 28, 2024
  • Federal judge orders Trump admin to restore public health web pages

    February 11, 2025
  • About us
  • Contacts
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

Disclaimer: moneyrisetoday.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

Copyright © 2025 moneyrisetoday.com | All Rights Reserved

Money Rise Today – Investing and Stock News
  • Economy
  • Editor’s Pick
Money Rise Today – Investing and Stock News
  • Investing
  • Stock