Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have blown through Washington like nothing since, well, Donald Trump. For small-government conservatives, the energy directed at cutting government bloat has been exhilarating. DOGE recommendations have exposed wasteful spending, driven the layoffs and firings of federal workers in significant numbers, and led to efforts to abolish or drastically restructure many federal agencies and programs.
Even the most urgent of causes, however, needs to be pursued within the law. That’s not just because the rule of law is an important good in itself, but also because failing to follow the law makes it far less likely that beneficial reforms will be implemented.
Comments