In the Wall Street Journal today, I write, with Blair Levin, about what we see as the best option for DOGE, the proposed advisory group within the White House that is tasked with improving government efficiency and cutting costs.

We propose making a serious effort to shift federal services from inefficient, understaffed and overworked local offices to the Internet, which would of course necessitate considerable upgrades to federal IT systems, as well as completing the build-out of broadband to the 7% of U.S. homes that still do not have a high-speed provider. Subsidies for the poor, and equipment, training, and support for some older Americans will also be necessary.

The build-out has already been funded through the 2021 Infrastructure and Jobs Act.

The rest would have to come out of the savings from shutting down field offices.