News: Translation of the headline into Ukrainian.
02.03.2025
203

Journalist
Shostal Oleksandr
02.03.2025
203

It is well known that Elon Musk and his chainsaw are not the first to use a horn and scissors to cut into government structures. Before him, Mitch Daniels, the former governor of Indiana and director of the Office of Management and Budget during President George W. Bush's administration, did this. Daniels reduced the workforce in his state by 18 percent, turning a $700 million deficit into a $2 billion surplus. He even sent refund checks to taxpayers. But now Daniels, along with other former Republican governors, looks at Musk and the Government Efficiency Department created by President Donald Trump with nostalgia, uncertainty, and, in Daniels' case, caution. He expressed that it would be better to achieve some real successes first and then talk about it less. Similar government downsizing measures were taken by former governors of Illinois and New Jersey, but they met resistance and did not always achieve the desired result. Trump's Government Efficiency Department referenced President Bill Clinton's 'Reinventing Government' initiative led by Vice President Al Gore in the 1990s. Former governors shared their successes and challenges in implementing reforms. Daniels even places coins on the tires of state vehicles to make sure they are used. If after a month the coins remain in place, Daniels sells these vehicles at auction. He also drastically reduced the number of planes and helicopters in the state. However, none of these measures have been as chaotic as Musk's project. It has been accompanied by several cases of layoffs and rehires, including workers from the nuclear program and the fight against bird flu. Governors acknowledged Trump's and Musk's attempts to downsize government and change its operations but expressed doubts about their ability to find such decisive solutions. Many obstacles are in the way of reforms, including legal challenges. Additionally, governors emphasized the importance of transparency and assessment before conducting cuts in government spending. Musk's idea to eliminate the Ebola program has sparked a negative public reaction. Daniels spoke intensively about the problem of the US federal debt. He believes that spending cuts are possible but not as sweeping as Trump and Musk demand. At the same Time, he pointed out that no efforts will have a real impact without reforming social security, including the Medicaid program.
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