DOGE’s processes are simple and sound

To the Editor:

Since beginning operations less than a month ago, there have been many legal challenges to end the DOGE effort. None will likely be successful.

DOGE and its director were legally established by Executive Order of the President of the United States as a special executive office reporting directly to the President. 

It has a simply defined mission to identify waste, fraud and abuse by federal agencies and those entities having contracts with those agencies. The processes in doing so are relatively simple and straight forward:

• Using artificial intelligence (AI) DOGE technicians identify potential waste and fraud in multiple federal agencies. Preliminary findings are reported to the President and appropriate cabinet level staff.
• Based on well-established audit and accounting processes there are many actions that can and should be taken including the following:  
  • Elimination of programs that are dormant or not fulfilling mission or contractual obligations.
  • Identification of positions for elimination that are found to be redundant or no longer needed.
  • Re-assignment of staff to needed new or revised positions wherever possible.
  • Firing of staff found to be uncooperative and insubordinate.
  • Recovery of funds for return to the Treasury.
  • Purging of files that are out of date and updated with accurate data.
  • Revision of internal processes to make them more efficient and effective.
  • Issuance of corrective action reports recommending internal systems and legislative change. 

All of the above are commonly used accounting and audit practices that are part of an executive’s authority and commonly used by business as well as local, state and federal governments.

Hopefully these practices will continue to be used and become commonplace wherever and whenever tax dollars are spent.

Eugene (Gene) Durney 

Calverton