In DOGE, the Potential for Public Good Lies Outside of Government  

COMMENTARY

It’s true that inefficiencies plague the U.S. government. It is also true that President-elect Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s new Department of Government Efficiency is unlikely to slash the government’s spending burden on taxpayers. But by focusing on what the new advisory entity cannot do, we are missing the point. 

Just consider Musk’s SpaceX and both the federal red tape and investigations his company faces. Looking at what Musk stands to gain — or lose — at the hands of government agencies like the Federal Aviation Administration and Environmental Protection Agency, the real raison d’etre of DOGE becomes clearer: the advisory entity is about dismantling government regulations, not cutting spending. Look no further than X, where Musk told his followers just this week that he finally has “a mandate to delete the mountain of choking regulations that do not serve the greater good.”

While the very inefficiencies the Trump White House purports to reduce will ultimately hamper the overall effort to tackle them, there are very real ways in which DOGE can work to defang regulations. Looking to the federal rulemaking process, Musk will be in a position to make reform recommendations to the White House, which in turn can direct agencies to modernize their rules. With control of both chambers of Congress and political staff in place, the possibility that the Trump administration could push through changes to government regulations, particularly with expedited processes, doesn’t seem so outlandish. 

Musk will almost certainly sic his DOGE on those regulations that are most challenging to his business interests, like autonomous vehicle testing and insurance, but his priorities will not be the only ones of the Trump administration. Business leaders who are already lining up to kiss the ring are doing so to maintain access and influence over the next four years, and the regulatory environment will undoubtedly be an area on which they want to spend their political capital. 

Be it health care, agriculture, energy, banking or housing, highly regulated industries will have an unprecedented opportunity to shape their own futures. But the opportunity is not without risk. Companies that seek to put their mark on the regulatory environment must do so in a way that considers their long-term gains. This means not alienating the left and promoting regulatory goals that align with the public good. 

Take marijuana, for example. The red tape around cannabis research is just one area that has stunted the responsible growth of an entire industry, creating a wild west of companies racing to create the most potent doses at the expense of consumers and the environment. Artificial intelligence is another area where critical gaps in regulation will have huge social consequences, including in housing, credit, data privacy, and so many other arenas. These are just two issues ripe for stakeholders to make a positive impact, and the creation of DOGE may make the timing ripe as well. 

To effectively advocate for rulemaking that makes sense, stakeholders must put the priorities of their constituents first. According to an Edelman Trust Barometer report, companies are seen as more competent and ethical than the government, which gives them a chance to not only maintain but increase the trust of their constituents when they put them first. Where to start? Look first at American voters this cycle, who overwhelmingly listed the economy and health care as their top issues. By focusing on issues that impact pocketbooks and well-being — and communicating about them through a consumer-first lens — organizations have an opportunity to improve the regulatory environment and the lives of citizens. 

One area that impacts both economic and health outcomes is the environment.

Despite the common narrative that Republicans don’t care about climate change, companies should not overlook it as they seek to impact rulemaking. In fact, Americans on both sides of the aisle believe water and energy conservation, as well as biodiversity, are important to their financial futures and that companies have a responsibility to address them. The business community takes a huge risk in either ignoring environmental regulations or, worse, ignoring the deleterious social impact of profit-first regulations. 

In successful advocacy, though, the who is just as important as the what. Businesses that partner with like-minded nonprofits, scientists or consumer groups can foster consensus and support through a coalition approach. Leveraging the resources, audiences and influence of partners both encourages impact and engenders trust. The latter is particularly important in our increasingly polarized political environment. 

There could be a grain of truth to Musk’s assertion that DOGE can promote the public good by streamlining government regulation. Based on who Americans trust the most, though, it is unlikely we will realize that public good if the business and NGO communities are not heavily involved.

To leverage DOGE for the public benefit, stakeholders should start thinking about how to do so now. 

Lindsay Singleton is an award-winning communications strategist and author of the leading research on social impact, Navigating ESG. She is an adjunct professor at GWU’s School of Political Management. She can be reached on LinkedIn.