Department of Government Efficiency as Austerity’s Endgame
Tuesday, June 24
1:30 pm ET
Zoom
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Dear John,
The so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) led by Elon Musk and Donald Trump caused upheaval and chaos throughout Washington. Tasked with—according to its leaders—maximizing productivity and efficiency, DOGE’s approach may seem unprecedented, but stripping down government functioning is anything but a new idea. Rather, DOGE is one more piece of a decades-long attack on public sector institutions that, under the guise of fiscal responsibility, seeks to create a government that is more dependent on the private sector, less dedicated to the well-being of its citizens, and ultimately, less democratic. Examples from the past century show how governments that adopt austerity policies pull back on essential services, erode workers’ rights and labor conditions, and serve corporations and the ultra-rich.
We invite you to join the Roosevelt Institute tomorrow for a critical conversation on the roots and repercussions of this moment. Experts on history, economics, and democratic institutions will explain how austerity policies harm everyday Americans and offer bold alternatives for a government that truly uses all its resources to serve the people.
We hope to see you there.
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Clara Mattei
Professor of Economics and Director of the Center for Heterodox Economics, University of Tulsa Oklahoma
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David Stein
Assistant Professor of History, University of California, Santa Barbara and former Roosevelt fellow
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Bilal Baydoun [Opening Remarks]
Director, Democratic Institutions, Roosevelt Institute
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Ira Regmi [Moderator]
Program Manager, Macroeconomic Analysis, Roosevelt Institute
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