On February 26, 2025, the President issued an executive order to establish the “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) initiative, aimed at enhancing federal spending practices. The order emphasizes the need for transparency in government contracts, grants, and loans. It requires agency heads to implement centralized systems for tracking payments and justifications. Additionally, agencies are instructed to review existing contracts for potential termination or modification, focusing on reducing waste and reallocating resources effectively.

The initiative mandates that agency heads collaborate with their DOGE Team Leads to create systems for documenting payments. This ensures that justifications are submitted and, where feasible, made publicly accessible. It also includes provisions for reviewing contracting policies and halting new contract approvals during the evaluation period. Furthermore, the order introduces restrictions on non-essential travel and freezes credit card usage for 30 days, with exceptions for critical services.

Exclusions from this order include contracts related to law enforcement, immigration enforcement, and other specified critical operations. The executive order outlines a timeline for agencies to report on their real property management and ensures that the order aligns with existing laws and appropriations. Overall, this initiative reflects the administration’s commitment to promoting accountability and efficiency in federal spending.

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In a recent op-ed published in the Wall Street Journal, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins outlined a strategy to lower egg prices in response to the challenges posed by avian influenza. The article highlights the Trump administration’s commitment to addressing this issue more effectively than the previous administration, which Rollins argues did not respond adequately to high egg prices and related outbreaks. As part of the plan, the Agriculture Department is set to invest up to $1 billion to combat avian flu, which has led to the culling of approximately 166 million laying hens since 2022. The plan will also focus on eliminating wasteful spending to free up funds for long-term solutions.

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