LBJ’s pentagon reforms through Trump’s budget focus show decades of federal efforts to streamline and cut costs
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AsElonMuskstepsawayfromhisofficialroleattheDepartmentofGovernmentEfficiency(DOGE),hejoinsahistoryofpresidentialadministrationsthathaveattemptedtostreamlinegovernment—withmixedresults.
WhileformerPresidentsThomasJefferson,AndrewJacksonandGroverClevelandalltriedtodownsizethejudiciary,treasuryandcivilservice,respectively,itwasn’tuntilthe20thcenturythatthefederalgovernmentgrewintothebureaucraticbehemothitisthathasdrawntrueDOGE-typeattention.
Thoughoftenseenasthebiggerspenders,someDemocratsjoinedRepublicansinthe1990stoshrinkthesizeofgovernmentandmakeitmoreaccountabletotaxpayers.
“Weknowbiggovernmentdoesnothavealltheanswers,”formerPresidentBillClintonsaidduringhis1996StateoftheUnion.
PROJECT2025REMAINSNONPARTISAN,TRUETO1980SGOOD-GOV’TINCEPTIONDESPITEWIDEOUTCRY,KEYFIGURESSAY
“Weknowthere’snotaprogramforeveryproblem.WehaveworkedtogivetheAmericanpeopleasmal