Voter Concerns Ahead of November Election

As the November election approaches, a significant issue for voters is the rising cost of living, which tops the list of concerns. Immigration follows closely for Republican voters.

While worries about government inefficiency haven’t made an explicit list, improving efficiency has surfaced as a key priority for the new administration. The strategy seems to revolve around massive layoffs, underpinned by the belief that fewer employees could lead to a more efficient government.

But what if that belief is misguided? Perhaps the government isn’t necessarily overstaffed. It might just be that inefficiencies stem from mismanagement rather than an excess of personnel.

Many of us interact with government services and often feel stuck in a confusing maze. For instance, a few years back, my company bought a plot of land from the New York Throughway authorities and aimed to put up a sign. The land was essentially landlocked and no longer needed by the authorities.

When I inquired about the timeline to finalize the purchase, the response was an estimated five years, which honestly seemed hard to believe given the number of people involved—more than six, it turned out.

This experience was incredibly frustrating from start to finish. We left more irritated at the state legislature than hopeful that fewer employees might lead to improvements. The lawmakers who establish these authorities seemed disconnected from how they actually operate.

In the federal government, it’s Congress that sets the rules. They can impose specific regulations on agencies or grant them the power to regulate on their own. In either scenario, the quantity and complexity of these regulations play a crucial role in determining hiring needs and the agency’s ability to deliver efficient services.

Moreover, new regulations often get piled onto old ones, with little thought about how they work together. The strength or weakness of the information systems in place further complicates matters. Jennifer Pahlka, in her work “America’s Restoration,” explores why well-intentioned policies often fall short.

Take, for example, the rollout of Healthcare.gov, which faced significant issues right out of the gate. Many government systems tend to yield slow, frustrating results for both employees and users alike.

This complexity—a “layer of policy, regulation, and procedures” built up over decades—can hinder even the best technology. Pahlka notes that systems can date back to the 1980s, leading to a frustrating overlap of outdated tech.

She likens new technology to layers of paint that rely on prior layers, which eventually become so thick and brittle that they begin to crack. For those tasked with supporting federal tech, revamping this disjointed system could be a logical starting point, though fixing long-neglected issues won’t be cheap or quick.

It demands time and effort, requiring input from a few remaining employees familiar with the existing systems, rather than relying on blanket layoffs and early retirements.

To truly improve government function, two primary steps are necessary: simplifying regulations and updating technology for enhanced efficiency.

Cutting jobs without first taking these steps is unlikely to yield any real efficiency. It could lead to fewer staff members managing the same workload, and abrupt cuts to ongoing programs may create unique wastes by disrupting supply chains and investment plans.

All the energy focused on layoffs and budget cuts may divert attention from the very issues that influenced voter opinions in the 2024 elections.

On immigration, the administration can point to a significant drop in illegal crossings at the southern border. However, public sentiment remains mixed on other immigration-related topics, including employment-based immigration and the status of over 11 million undocumented individuals in the U.S. These issues can’t be resolved quickly, as immigration reform relies on Congress, not just the administration.

When the administration opts for executive orders, it risks overstepping its authority, thus complicating discussions on challenging issues for Republican lawmakers.

The outlook for addressing inflation isn’t promising either. Factors like taxes, tax cuts, limited labor supply, and pressure on the Federal Reserve all seem to work against efforts to contain inflation.

President Trump expressed frustration earlier this year when he acknowledged trade-offs that complicated these issues. He mentioned not being particularly concerned about rising car prices, but voters worried about inflation in November might not share his sentiment.