Editor's note: This story was updated to correct a name associated with the leadership of a federal department. We regret the error.

The second Trump administration has embraced the challenge of cutting government spending. With annual interest on the U.S. federal debt alone exceeding $1 trillion, the administration’s DOGE initiative couldn’t be more timely. Led by Elon Musk, this "Department of Government Efficiency" promises to save taxpayer money and streamline our bloated bureaucracies.

I am rooting for their success. One of my proudest accomplishments during my years leading a federal agency was to save $21.6 billion — far short of DOGE’s $2 trillion savings goal. I know how hard it is to change the government in ways that deliver meaningful savings.

As the Trump administration prepares its agenda, I have a few recommendations on where to start.

After decades in government, I know how hard it can be to identify and cut waste. This is not a reflection on the character or competency of government workers, many of whom are talented and hard-working with a genuine sense of public service. Instead, it is a reflection of a broken system that values process over efficiency.

The General Services Administration, which I led during the first Trump administration, manages the federal government’s real estate and procurement, including how the government buys everything from paper clips to courthouses. Although GSA reports roughly $40 billion in revenue, the agency oversees over $100 billion in annual government contracts and 360 million square........

© The Hill