In an era in which public trust in government is low and demands for efficiency are louder than ever, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has emerged as a dramatic experiment in federal modernization. But can it succeed where others have stumbled? A new analysis from the National Academy of Public Administration offers a compelling roadmap, rooted in history, sharpened by experience, and aimed squarely at the future.
Reform Revisited draws from a rich retrospective of three major reform efforts: the Reagan-era Grace Commission, the Clinton Administration’s National Partnership for Reinventing Government, and the Obama-era Simpson-Bowles Commission.
Each initiative brought ambition, innovation, and controversy—and each left behind lessons that today’s reformers would be wise to heed.
The Grace Commission (1982–1984) promising massive savings through private-sector-style audits of federal operations, spotlighted inefficiencies and proposed over 2,000 recommendations, yet its lack of implementation authority and political baggage meant few of its ideas took root.
The National Partnership for Reinventing Government (1993–2001), led by Vice President Al Gore, slashed red tape, shrank the federal workforce, and introduced customer service standards. Yet critics argued it leaned too heavily on corporate models and failed to address deeper institutional challenges.
In 2010, the Simpson-Bowles Commission, attempted to tackle the nation’s fiscal future. Despite bipartisan leadership and bold proposals, it fell short of consensus and congressional action. Still, it sparked important conversations about sustainability, tax reform, and the long-term health of federal programs.
Enter DOGE. Established in January 2025, this time-limited initiative has aimed to modernize federal IT, streamline workflows, and cut waste. It’s already experimenting with AI audits, integrated dashboards for federal workers, and interagency reviews. But as the analysis warns, ambition alone isn’t enough. Without legal authority, cultural alignment, and sustained engagement, even the best ideas risk fading into the bureaucratic ether.
So what can make reforms stick? The Academy’s analysis distills five core principles: rely on accurate data, benchmark wisely, collaborate across silos, embed public engagement, and build real accountability. DOGE’s success or failure will depend on its ability to learn from the past while adapting to new realities. That means grounding efforts in law, aligning rhetoric with results, and partnering with trusted institutions like the Academy to avoid common pitfalls. It also means recognizing that reform is as much about people and politics as it is about process.
Dive into the full report and discover how smarter government isn’t just possible, it’s essential.
