OPINION:
Finally, a systemwide audit of the federal government (“Trump appoints Musk, Ramaswamy to lead Department of Government Efficiency,” web, Nov. 12).
It’s something businesses do on an ongoing basis. There are whole agencies and departments, some of which have been around since Franklin D. Roosevelt was president, that no longer have reason to exist, or else could be consolidated.
The promised Department of Government Efficiency should conduct audits based on return on investment. If a position is closed or reduced, those affected should be given severance or the option to transfer. (It’s not their fault they were hired to fill a position that should have been audited out of existence long ago.)
Also, government itself should not be a constituency. People are hired to serve the citizens, not a department or party.
Next, the new department should examine decentralization. The basic civil service rules should be rewritten to discourage homesteading and underperformance.
There are many good people in government, but oftentimes their good intentions and motivation are crushed by those who are just working for a pension. Expectations should be raised and the good people rewarded. We should not be losing decent employees people to frustration over lack of advancement. Efficiency and service should be paramount.
The department must severely restrict the influence of advocacy groups and lobbyists. Government of the people, by the people and for the people should be the mission. While we’re at it, Congress should not have lifetime pensions or free health care for life. Serving the people should be privilege, not a lifetime reward.
And let’s do annual audits of the income of members of Congress. We are all taxpayers and should know we are getting our money’s worth.
P.L. HAMP
Oak Hill, Virginia
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