Podcast Summary: Tangle Episode: Updates on the Department of Government Efficiency
Host: Isaac Saul
Release Date: February 19, 2025

Introduction

In this episode of Tangle, host Isaac Saul delves deep into the recent activities and controversies surrounding the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge). The discussion encompasses ongoing court cases challenging Doge's authority, critiques from both political spectrums, and an analysis of the department's purported savings. Additionally, the episode features an under-the-radar story about Los Angeles wildfires and a listener's question regarding military personnel and COVID-19 vaccination policies.

Department of Government Efficiency (Doge): An Overview

Doge, led by Elon Musk, was established with the ambitious goal of slashing federal government spending through various cost-cutting measures. Since its inception, Doge has attempted to access multiple federal departments to identify and eliminate what it perceives as wasteful expenditures.

Court Cases and Controversies

Recent actions by Doge have sparked significant legal challenges:

• Access to Federal Data: Doge sought access to sensitive information across several federal agencies. This move led 19 state attorneys general to file lawsuits on constitutional and privacy grounds.

• Judicial Rulings:

  • U.S. District Judge Jeanette Vargas extended an order blocking Doge from accessing Treasury Department data following the aforementioned lawsuits.
  • Judge Randolph Moss denied a challenge from the University of California Student Association attempting to block Doge's access to the Department of Education data.
  • Judge Tanya Chutkan rejected a request from 14 Democratic state attorneys general to issue a temporary restraining order against Doge's access to federal departments, stating that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate immediate and irreparable injury.

Isaac Saul highlights the tension between Doge's objectives and the legal boundaries it faces:

"[06:07] Isaac Saul: ...In the past week, several U.S. district judges have issued temporary rulings on the ongoing challenges."

Savings Claims and Discrepancies

Doge claims to have saved $55 billion through its initiatives. However, an itemized list on their website totals only $16.6 billion, a figure that has been contested. Notable discrepancies include:

• An erroneous listing of an $8 billion savings from an Immigration and Customs Enforcement contract, which was actually worth $8 million.
• Termination notices account for 20% of Doge's reported savings but will only reflect in federal procurement data after a one-month delay.

Isaac Saul critiques the accuracy and transparency of Doge's reporting:

"[06:21] Isaac Saul: ...the total savings it claims. As part of its savings, it has recommended firing thousands of government employees."

Reactions from the Political Spectrum

The Right's Perspective

Supporters on the right view Doge's efforts as a necessary crackdown on government inefficiency:

• National Review's Editors argue that critics of Doge are driven by "premature, hysterical" sentiments without constitutional backing. They emphasize the president's authority to audit federal spending:

  "[11:11] National Review: ...the president has plenary authority over the executive branch to run as he sees fit..."

• Washington Examiner's Marc Short praises Doge for promoting accountability and transparency, calling for permanent legislative support to sustain Doge's initiatives.

The Left's Perspective

Critics on the left contend that Doge's approach is ideologically driven rather than focused on genuine efficiency:

• Ed Kilgore from New York Magazine describes Doge as prioritizing "mindless budget cutting" over substantive reforms, highlighting that Doge's actions often lack evidence, especially regarding claims of fraud.

  "[11:11] Ed Kilgore: ...Musk clearly loves to depict Doge as a lean, mean efficiency machine..."

• Justin Fox of Bloomberg counters Musk's claims about fraud within the Social Security Administration by contextualizing the overpayment figures relative to total disbursements, questioning the significance of Doge's findings.

  "[11:11] Justin Fox: ...even if the actual overpayment amount is several times larger, it's still not much relative to the huge scale of Social Security."

• Newsweek's Ben Cohen and Justin Goodman urge Doge to focus on the Pentagon's wasteful spending, presenting it as a unifying issue that transcends political divides.

  "[11:11] Ben Cohen & Justin Goodman: ...If Doge is serious about cutting waste, it needs to look first at the Pentagon."

Will Kabeck's Take

Will Kabeck, the podcast's editor, offers a critical analysis of Doge's operations:

• Transparency and Competence Issues: While Doge has made efforts to publish its savings, the incomplete and sometimes erroneous data raises concerns about its ability to manage large-scale audits effectively.

  "[16:20] Will Kabeck: ...Dog’s lack of cogency is the most concerning aspect of these actions."

• Impact on Federal Agencies: Doge's aggressive cost-cutting measures have led to mass layoffs and disruptions in agencies like the IRS and SSA, potentially jeopardizing essential services.

• Specific Concerns:

  • IRS Access: Doge's request to access the IRS's Integrated Data Retrieval System (IDRS) poses significant privacy and security risks.
  • SSA Missteps: Musk's claims about fraudulent Social Security payments have been debunked, diverting attention from more pressing modernization needs within the agency.

Will emphasizes that while Doge's mission aligns with addressing government waste—a concern shared by many Americans—the department's execution is flawed and counterproductive.

"[27:37] Will Kabeck: ...DOGE still needs to update its top line savings to reflect the $8 billion $8 million mix up in a Department of Homeland Security contract..."

Under The Radar: Los Angeles Wildfires and Fire Department Resources

Isaac Saul sheds light on the critical issue of inadequate fire department resources in Los Angeles, which contributed to the severity of the January wildfires. The shortage of operational fire trucks was attributed to faulty maintenance, industry consolidation leading to longer manufacturing times, supply chain disruptions, and labor shortages exacerbated by the pandemic.

"In Los Angeles alone, dozens of rigs were out of service while the fires raged..."

The New York Times conducted an analysis revealing that many fire departments nationwide are grappling with multi-year waits to receive new engines, endangering effective responses to emergencies.

Numbers Section

• Social Security Overpayments: In fiscal year 2023, the Social Security Administration (SSA) disbursed $1.4 trillion in benefits, with an estimated $3.3 billion in overpayments (~0.24% of total outlays) as per the Office of Management and Budget.

• Medicare Improper Payments: Between 2004 and 2023, Medicare faced $644.5 billion in improper and unknown payments, the largest among federal programs.

• IRS Software Outdatedness: A 2023 Government Accountability Office report found that 33% of IRS applications and 23% of its software are outdated.

• Public Opinion on Social Security and IRS:

  • 67% of U.S. adults believe the government is spending too little on Social Security (AP NORC poll, January 2025).
  • 38% have a favorable view of the IRS, while 50% hold an unfavorable view (Pew Research, July 2024).

Listener's Question: Military Personnel and COVID-19 Vaccination Policies

Loree from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania inquires about the differences between President Trump's 2025 executive order and President Biden's 2023 legislation concerning military personnel discharged for refusing COVID-19 vaccinations.

Aiden Gorman, Tangle's associate producer, explains:

• Biden's Actions (2023):

  • Rescinded the 2021 directive making COVID-19 vaccines mandatory for service members.
  • Allowed discharged soldiers to petition for record corrections to a general discharge.
  • Offered re-enlistment opportunities, though participation was minimal (113 enlisted).

• Trump's Executive Order (2025):

  • Mandated the reinstatement of service members discharged for vaccine refusal.
  • Guaranteed full back pay, benefits, and bonuses to reinstated personnel.

This delineation highlights contrasting approaches between the two administrations regarding military personnel and vaccination policies.

Conclusion

The episode underscores the contentious role of Doge in attempting to reform federal spending, highlighting significant political divides and concerns about the department's methods and efficacy. While the right lauds Doge's mission to eliminate government waste, the left critiques its execution and ideological underpinnings. Additionally, ancillary stories such as the challenges faced by Los Angeles's fire departments and insights into federal program overpayments enrich the discourse, painting a comprehensive picture of ongoing governmental reform efforts.

Listen to the full episode here.