Question 1: What is Open the Books’ view on the Department of Government Efficiency?

 

Open the Books has been calling attention to wasteful spending for over a decade, and now we’re seeing the concept enter the national consciousness in a way that we’ve never seen before.

 

It’s something both parties can get behind. No matter your view on raising or lowering taxes, everyone can agree the government should not be funding projects that don’t directly benefit the public:

 

Things like the Pentagon losing track of its $824 billion budget this year, which Sen. Bernie Sanders says he wants to work with DOGE to fix. Things like the Department of Energy paying for a 2 million square foot office that has eight people in it on an average day, which our team and Sen. Joni Ernst recently identified.

 

And the public’s role will be to hold Washington accountable and make sure the White House actually follows through. Trump increased the federal deficit by almost $6 trillion last time he was in office, more than anyone in history until Biden spent even more.

 

Question 2: What have we heard from Maine’s senators about this department?

 

Sen. Susan Collins is now going to be leading the Senate Appropriations Committee. Elon Musk only has an advisory role; she’s the one with the real power to control spending.

 

Collins had a private meeting with Musk last week for over an hour. She told reporters “I was very impressed with his energy and dedication” but didn’t elaborate much beyond that.

 

But there’s talk that DOGE might push for a ban on earmarks, which use federal money to fund local projects. Collins is one of the biggest earmarkers in the history of Congress. Last year she used almost $600 million for earmarks, 25% more than anyone else.

 

Question 3: Is a Department of Government Efficiency something that could hypothetically work at the state level?

 

Yes. The Republican administration coming into the White House is going to attempt to give more power back to state governments. If that happens, it’ll be even more important for Maine to cut out wasteful spending.

 

(Governor Mills proposed a state budget this year that would have set aside $105 million for savings. Legislators halved that over the summer and only about $50 million will be saved.)

 

Mills told your team just a few weeks ago the next budget is going to be very “lean” and avoid new investments. She blamed the Legislature that “booked every penny” of savings this year.

 

The state’s expenses are projected to be $187 million higher than its profits in 2026-2027. That’s going to be a challenge, and working within the government to make processes more efficient and cut out wasteful spending is the best way to avoid cutting important services that the public relies on.

 

Question 4: What are some areas that need addressing at the state/local level?

 

Many legislators seem willing to spend the state’s rainy day fund, which is meant for huge emergencies like a national recession.

 

Mills spent $60 million of it this year to help winter storm victims. But before she could, Senate Republicans tried to add in another $60 million for nursing homes and mental health services. Democrats had to put them in check and preserve the money. Not that those aren’t important, but they’re not emergencies like the fund exists for.

 

We also arguably need pension reform in Maine. Last year 66 former state employees had pensions above $60,000, triple the amount in 2018. And the officials who run the pension system are earning up to $330,000 — almost $100k more than the same position earns in any other state in the NorthEast.