Before DOGE: Remember “reinventing government” to “nobody messes with Joe”?

1 CommentEconomics, Government

Al Gore?

Here’s a condensed version of the backstory on cutting government waste from President Clinton onward:

Bill Clinton (1993–2001): Reinventing Government

Clinton’s National Performance Review (NPR), led by Al Gore, aimed to streamline government. It cut over 377,000 federal jobs, eliminated 100+ programs, and slashed regulations, achieving four budget surpluses (1998–2001). The focus was on efficiency—cutting “fat, not muscle”—via buyouts and attrition, shrinking the workforce by 20%.

George W. Bush (2001–2009): Management Agenda

Bush’s President’s Management Agenda (PMA) targeted waste through performance metrics and outsourcing. Federal employment stayed stable (~2 million), but spending soared post-9/11 and during wars, turning a $128 billion surplus into a $458 billion deficit by 2008. Savings were modest (e.g., $1.4 billion in improper payments), overshadowed by security priorities.

Barack Obama (2009–2017): Campaign to Cut Waste

Obama’s Campaign to Cut Waste, led by Biden, tackled improper payments and overhead after the 2008 crisis. It saved $17.6 billion by 2011, cut administrative costs by $2 billion, and proposed $33 billion in program cuts for 2012. The deficit dropped from $1.4 trillion (2009) to $438 billion (2015), but gains were incremental amid recovery needs.

Donald Trump (2017–2021, 2025–Present): Reorganization and DOGE

  • First Term: Trump’s 2017 reorganization plan cut regulations (22,000 pages) and reduced civilian jobs to 1.87 million by 2020. The deficit hit $3.1 trillion in 2020 due to tax cuts and COVID-19.
  • Second Term: The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), launched January 2025 with Musk and Ramaswamy, claimed $55 billion in early savings by March 20, 2025, targeting jobs and programs like USAID. Aiming for $2 trillion annually, its rapid cuts spark debate over feasibility and legality.

Summary

Clinton’s NPR delivered surpluses through studied cuts, Bush and Obama managed smaller gains amid crises, and Trump’s DOGE pushes aggressive, ideological slashing. Success varies—Clinton’s surpluses contrast with persistent deficits since, with DOGE’s full impact still unfolding in 2025.

“We need to go after every dime… I’ve asked the VP to hunt down misspent tax dollars in every agency and department of this government. We’re calling it ‘The Campaign to Cut Waste.’” – OBAMA