Days of DOGE: A Civitas Outlook Symposium

The intervention of the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) throughout the federal government has ignited intense controversy along intersecting lines of constitutional, policy, and cultural disputes. Much of the fracas is happening within a federal government where Congress no longer reliably flexes its constitutional responsibilities. Accordingly, the judicial and executive branches frequently attempt to snatch greater levels of legitimacy and government functionality in the face of a moribund Congress. On one level, valuable information is emerging from DOGE’s efforts regarding eccentric spending programs, waste, and fraud. However, there are also constitutional concerns about DOGE’s irresponsible use of power within the executive branch while attempting to root out various forms of dysfunctional government. What should a constitutionally minded reformer think about these events?

Civitas Outlook asked Robert Beschel, Charlie Cooke, Robert Delahunty, and Yuval Levin to analyze DOGE and its implications.