Listeners, today’s major topic is the Washington DOGE Test and the ongoing push for government efficiency at both the federal and state level, all unfolding amidst some of the most turbulent policy shifts in years. The Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, was launched as a centerpiece of the Trump administration’s pledge to curb waste and streamline federal bureaucracy, but new investigations suggest its results have been both controversial and costly. Democrats on the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations just released a damning report: DOGE has actually generated more than $21 billion in waste since its launch. Their investigation found that the initiative’s signature move—paying federal employees to leave or not work—has so far cost taxpayers $14.8 billion for the “deferred resignation program” and another $6.1 billion for putting over 100,000 employees on lengthy administrative leave. A federal employee, speaking anonymously to HuffPost, described the uncertainty and loss of purpose, saying research and grant programs have simply ground to a halt. Add to that $110 million wasted on spoiling food and unused medical supplies, plus bizarre cases like scientists assigned to greet guests at national parks, all in the name of efficiency.Supporters of DOGE, especially in the White House, maintain that these measures have shaved $199 billion from discretionary spending, which they claim is $1,236 per taxpayer. Oversight continues: According to News from the States, agency watchdogs are now probing DOGE-led projects to see if any real, lasting improvements to efficiency actually materialized.Here in Washington state, the efficiency debate has a local wrinkle. While federal agencies contend with shutdowns and mass furloughs—the government officially ran out of money on October 1, 2025, as reported by Seyfarth Shaw—small businesses are reeling from a new wave of state taxes designed to balance the budget. Washington Policy Center details how Senate Bill 5814 has imposed devastating new sales taxes on services, from IT to event planning, with compliance costs crushing small businesses already struggling with inflation.As the debate on government efficiency, waste, and accountability heads into another election season, both Washington D.C. and Olympia are under scrutiny not just for how much money is saved, but what is lost in the process.Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.For more http://www.quietplease.aiGet the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOtaThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

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