A group of lawmakers in the new Congressional DOGE Caucus is contemplating a crackdown on federal agencies' work-from-home policies as Republicans prepare to assume power in Washington DC next year. The DOGE Caucus, which stands for Delivering Outstanding Government Efficiency, aligns with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a new advisory panel established by President-elect Trump and led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy.
The caucus recently convened its inaugural meeting, primarily focusing on organizational matters. Co-chair Rep. Aaron Bean, R-Fla., noted a strong turnout with over 60 members in attendance, including three Democrats. Lawmakers were encouraged to prioritize initiatives and identify goals that would yield significant impact.
One key area of discussion was the issue of federal workers predominantly working from home, leading to underutilized office spaces. Rep. Bean highlighted the need to reassess the necessity of maintaining vast commercial buildings with low occupancy rates, questioning the efficiency of current arrangements.
Rep. Beth Van Duyne, R-Texas, echoed concerns about the underutilization of office spaces, emphasizing the need to optimize resources and identify cost-saving opportunities within the federal government.
Contrary to criticisms suggesting that the DOGE initiative aimed to reduce Social Security and Medicare benefits, Rep. Bean clarified that the primary goal was to enhance efficiency and safeguard existing benefits without compromising essential services.
Lawmakers expressed enthusiasm for the caucus's cost-cutting and efficiency objectives, with plans to establish working groups to address specific aspects of the DOGE mission. The next caucus meeting is scheduled for January to further advance discussions and action plans.
Overall, the DOGE Caucus aims to streamline government operations, enhance productivity, and maximize resources to deliver outstanding efficiency in federal agencies.
