In a move initially hailed as promising increased efficiency within the federal government, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), established under the management of Elon Musk, is reportedly having unintended negative consequences. According to recent reports and statements from various federal employees, the intended streamlining efforts have instead led to complex bureaucratic hurdles that have impeded simple transactions and stretched project timelines considerably.
Federal workers from 19 different agencies have expressed concern over the increasing amount of red tape that has emerged, despite DOGE's pledge to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse from the system. Employees of notable entities such as NASA, the State Department, Social Security Administration, National Institutes of Health, and the Federal Aviation Administration describe a work environment that has left them feeling demoralized and less efficient than ever. The administrative changes have not only delayed projects but have also resulted in everyday tasks requiring additional procedural steps that previously did not exist.
One notable example of these issues arose at the State Department where hiring an international vendor, a task that should typically take a day, was delayed by additional sign-off requirements to ensure compliance with newly imposed policies that aim to eradicate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) concerns. The extra bureaucratic layers required in these instances have led to significant delays, exemplifying the broader trend noted across various departments.
Similar concerns have been echoed across other agencies. At the Federal Aviation Administration, new requirements mandate that employees draft justifications for even minor expenses, drastically increasing the time required for requests such as ordering office supplies. Such processes, once fast and straightforward, have been stretched to unwarranted lengths, affecting the operations of tasks essential for routine function and safety, like window cleaning in air traffic control towers—a critical task for maintaining visibility for controllers.
The National Institutes of Health also faces a novel challenge where research grants are now subject to vetting through AI to detect references deemed sensitive, further complicating the grant approval process. Meanwhile, the Social Security Administration describes a chaotic environment after reassignment strategies were executed, leaving the office understaffed and overwhelmed with untrained personnel at crucial positions.
In light of these difficulties, the White House has maintained its stance, with spokesman Harrison Fields affirming President Trump’s commitment to reforming costly government practices. Despite employee dissatisfaction and operational inefficiencies, the administration insists that DOGE’s vision for cost-cutting and streamlining of government spending remains a priority, undeterred by any resistance to these changes.
These revelations suggest a significant mismatch between the intended purpose of these reforms and their effects on day-to-day operations within government agencies. While the overarching goal of reducing fiscal waste is widely supported, the practical implementation appears to be running counter to the goals of increased efficiency and has sparked a complex intersection of administrative difficulties and staff dissatisfaction. As these agencies continue to grapple with these changes, it remains to be seen how this restructuring will evolve in practice to balance efficiency with practicality and workforce morale.