Feb. 9—Did you know we’re living through a historic shift, one that only happens every 500 years? Just think back to the Renaissance or the printing press; each was a giant leap forward for humanity. Now, we’re in a similar moment, thanks to technology like the internet, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing.
As a Washington correspondent for TIME Magazine and a tech startup CEO in Silicon Valley, I’ve noticed something interesting: the real struggle today is between government bureaucracy and technology. This isn’t just about politics; it’s about how fast government can adapt in this tech-driven world.
Our Founding Fathers designed a careful system. They believed quick changes could lead to tyranny, so they created checks and balances to slow things down. Former President Barack Obama likened changing government to “turning an aircraft carrier”—it requires patience. Despite his numerous executive orders, he didn’t enact rapid changes like President Donald Trump is trying to do.
In fact, the last significant reduction in federal government size came from Bill Clinton, who cut about 400,000 jobs through buyouts. Since then, the workforce has either remained stable or grown.
Today, people crave speed. We expect quick service—from pizza deliveries to ride-hailing apps. Yet, when it comes to government, that speed is hard to achieve.
This desire for fast changes has led to a series of elections since 2000 that consistently shift power between parties. The only thing that changes quickly is party leadership, with members often pushing out their own leaders.
One person making strides in tech responsiveness is Matt Lira, a Republican with a background in Congress and the Trump administration. He has helped pass many bills aimed at modernizing government, mostly unnoticed.
Now, Lira runs a nonprofit focused on improving financial opportunities for children, showing that change can come in various forms.
The era of slow, step-by-step change seems to be fading. With Trump’s second term and the influence of tech leaders, we’re seeing the push for rapid change. It’s captivating to observe how tech innovators are tackling bureaucratic obstacles.
Many people, even Democrats, agree that government grew too large during Covid. So, Elon Musk’s attempt to cut it by 10% isn’t shocking. However, he’s discovering that scaling back in Washington is quite complex. Only a tiny fraction of his buyout offers were accepted before legal challenges put them on hold.
Furthermore, Musk wants to eliminate entire departments, but he’s running into lawsuits. He can’t dismantle agencies set up by Congress on his own.
It’s notable that Musk himself benefits significantly from government contracts. Surprisingly, many who might be adversely affected support his push for change. During a recent earnings call, Palantir CEO Alex Karp voiced support for Musk’s initiative, believing it will eventually benefit his business.
“There will be ups and downs. There’s a revolution,” he says. “Some people are going to get their heads cut off. We’re expecting unexpected things and hope to win.”
Is this a transformation? Only time will tell. Trump and Musk have escalated the ongoing struggle between tech and bureaucracy, changing the game for future administrations. The first round will likely be fought in courts, and it might take years to see the outcomes. But one thing is clear: this battle has only just begun.
Jay Newton-Small is the editor-in-chief of the Albuquerque Journal. The views presented here are her own.
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President Donald Trump, incremental change, Republican versus Democrat, three branches of government, technology, President Bill Clinton, bureaucracy, rapid change, government
