President-elect Trump’s proposed Department of Government Efficiency or DOGE effort might sound like a meme, but it’s actually a brilliant political move. He is zeroing in on an issue Americans deeply care about — wasteful government spending. That’s a dare Democrats can’t afford to take.
Instead of dismissing Trump’s DOGE as another empty campaign gimmick, Democrats should seize the opportunity to lead on government efficiency. They should make the case that rooting out waste doesn’t mean gutting Social Security, slashing Medicare or ignoring bloated defense budgets. It means making government work better for everyone.
If Democrats play this right, they can expose Republican hypocrisy, win over moderates and prove that effective governance isn’t a Republican talking point — it’s a Democratic strength.
Something I know well from my time as spokesperson for the fiscally responsible Democratic Blue Dog Coalition — a caucus of moderate, pragmatic Democrats in the House of Representatives — government inefficiency drives Americans crazy. A June 2024 Pew Research survey found that 56 percent of Americans believe the government to be “almost always wasteful and inefficient.” Yet Democrats often cede government efficiency to Republicans, allowing them to claim the mantle of fiscal responsibility — even though their record tells a different story.
Under Trump, the national debt exploded by $7.8 trillion, fueled by unfunded tax cuts for the wealthy and increased spending. Historically, Republican administrations have added more to the national debt than Democratic ones. But Republicans continue to hammer Democrats on spending, and voters buy it because Democrats too often fail to respond.
This is a missed opportunity. Engaging on efficiency neutralizes Republican attacks and appeals to moderates who value practical governance. It’s a proven strategy. In 2010, as the Tea Party wave wiped out congressional Democrats across the country, Rep. Mike Ross (D-Ark.) bucked the trend, leaning into fiscal responsibility, championing the Blue Dog Coalition’s Blueprint for Fiscal Reform. He won reelection by more than 15 points in a deeply red rural district. As his communications director at the time, I saw firsthand how addressing voters’ concerns about waste and inefficiency turned a potential liability into a political strength.
Democrats can follow Ross’s example by showing they take efficiency seriously — not as an attack on government itself, but as a way to make it work better for people.
One misconception about efficiency is that it’s code for cutting vital programs. Republicans often use it to attack earned benefits like Social Security and Medicare. Polling shows that nearly 80 percent of Americans oppose cuts to Social Security, making it a political and moral no-go zone.
Democrats should seize the chance to protect these programs while advancing their own vision of efficiency. For example, automation could streamline Social Security’s outdated processes, improving service for seniors while reducing costs without sacrificing benefits.
Efficiency doesn’t mean ignoring the biggest sources of waste. Republicans shield bloated defense budgets while preaching fiscal responsibility. If they’re serious, they should support a full audit of the Pentagon — the largest and least accountable part of the federal budget. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), is already pushing this into the DOGE conversation.
At the same time, automation and efficiency measures can displace workers. By prioritizing workforce training and transitions, Democrats can prove efficiency and equity aren’t mutually exclusive — they’re mutually reinforcing.
Engaging on efficiency also exposes Republican hypocrisy. Trump’s DOGE is championed by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy — figures more interested in dismantling government than improving it. Democrats believe in the government’s ability to help people, and they can prove it by rooting out waste without undermining essential programs.
Democrats can also highlight the Republican track record. When serious bipartisan proposals to reduce the debt emerge, Republicans often walk away. For instance, a debt-reduction commission with bipartisan support advanced out of the House Budget Committee with bipartisan support in January 2024. But Republican leadership abandoned the effort once conservative groups opposed it, prioritizing ideological purity over practical solutions. Democrats must call out these contradictions while offering a better path forward.
Voters don’t care whether reforms come from Republicans or Democrats — they just want results. By taking government efficiency seriously, Democrats can prove they’re listening to voters’ frustrations and working to address them.
This isn’t just good policy — it’s good politics. As someone who has led Democratic campaigns exclusively in purple or red areas, voters in these swing districts value leaders who respect their tax dollars and focus on results. By engaging on efficiency, Democrats can connect with these voters and neutralize Republican attacks about reckless spending.
Ross’s success in 2010 shows how this strategy works. By addressing inefficiency head-on, Ross didn’t just defend his record — he turned fiscal responsibility into a winning message. Today’s Democrats can follow that blueprint by eliminating waste, modernizing operations and protecting programs Americans rely on.
The truth is, Trump’s DOGE may be a campaign gimmick, but the issues it seeks to address — waste and inefficiency — are real. Democrats don’t need to embrace the branding, but they should embrace the challenge. Efficiency doesn’t just make government better; it makes it more credible.
By stepping into this fight, Democrats can redefine the conversation, expose Republican hypocrisy and prove that effective governance is their strength. Government efficiency isn’t just a Republican talking point — it’s an American priority, and it’s ripe for leadership.
Brad Howard is a Democratic strategist who is the founder and president of Corcoran Street Group. An Obama administration alumnus, he previously served as chief of staff to former Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D-Fla.), and as spokesperson for the House Blue Dog Coalition, former Rep. Mike Ross (D-Ark.), and New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu.
