White House Pushes Forward with Government Efficiency Plan Amid Spending Debate

White House Doubles Down on Cutting Waste, Launches New Government Efficiency Push

The White House is standing firm on its promise to cut government waste and boost efficiency across federal agencies. Amid growing criticism, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt recently defended the administration’s budget-cutting agenda, led in part by the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

The initiative—getting strategic advice from entrepreneur Elon Musk and his team—is focused on streamlining federal operations and finding areas where taxpayer money is being wasted. Leavitt reminded reporters that calls to rein in government spending aren’t new.

“Cutting wasteful spending isn’t a novel idea,” Leavitt said. “This is about smart, effective management—not politics. Leaders from both parties have backed efforts like this in the past.”

She pointed to former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, both of whom pushed for tighter budgets and more efficient operations. Clinton’s efforts in the 1990s led to trimmed-down federal agencies, reduced administrative costs, and even budget surpluses by the end of his presidency.

Now, with the national deficit topping $1.8 trillion and annual interest payments on federal debt hitting $880 billion, officials say a serious rethink is overdue. Supporters of DOGE believe the time for a government reboot is now.

Rep. Daniel Webster (R-FL) recently sounded the alarm in an op-ed, saying the $36 trillion national debt demands action. “It’s time for agencies to modernize and prove their value,” he wrote, adding that outdated systems and bloated bureaucracy can no longer go unchecked.

DOGE takes inspiration from the U.S. Digital Service, launched in 2014 to bring Silicon Valley know-how into the federal government. But unlike that earlier effort, DOGE is taking a broader approach—digging into operations across all departments with an eye on long-term savings.

Some critics are wary about private-sector figures influencing federal operations, but officials say this isn’t about setting policy. Instead, the focus is on accountability and results.

“This is about saving taxpayer money and making sure every agency is running as efficiently as possible,” said Leavitt. “It’s just common sense—and it shouldn’t be a partisan issue.”

With federal spending expected to stay in the spotlight through the rest of the year, DOGE is scheduled to release its first set of recommendations in the coming months.