Let there be gentle: The biblical reality driving DOGE's conflict on waste

[ad_1] <img class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="202b5c15b52176f421897b83471fb9b8" id="2a09d" src="https://www.conservativereview.com/media-library/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnRoZWJsYXplLmNvbS9tZWRpYS1saWJyYXJ5L2xldC10aGVyZS1iZS1saWdodC10aGUtYmlibGljYWwtdHJ1dGgtZHJpdmluZy1kb2dlLXMtd2FyLW9uLXdhc3RlLmpwZz9pZD01OTg0OTEzOCZhbXA7d2lkdGg9MTI0NSZhbXA7aGVpZ2h0PTcwMCZhbXA7Y29vcmRpbmF0ZXM9MCwxNDUsMCw3OSIsImV4cGlyZXNfYXQiOjE4MDE1MDI0NTB9.LErPZMOeMCJkXXwkTLON4RdiGh7meC0Ue7gpkmwIRAk/image.jpg" /> Nothing within the second Trump administration has divided Washington extra sharply than the Division of Authorities Effectivity, headed by tech entrepreneur Elon Musk. The frenetic effort has featured foibles, nevertheless it has additionally uncovered stunning wastes of taxpayer {dollars} — discoveries which will have earned the DOGE extra detractors than its faults. Regardless of the remaining outcomes could also be, it’s worthwhile for Christians to think about a driving impulse behind the DOGE’s work that's deeply in step with biblical values.

That is the DOGE’s impulse to push for transparency — or, maybe extra exactly, illumination — about authorities spending and processes. “In a Fox interview, Musk and his staff … shined a better gentle on the quantity of inefficiency and monetary waste that’s propagated by our federal authorities,” mentioned FRC Motion President Jody Hice.

'Take no half within the unfruitful works of darkness, however as an alternative expose them.'

In that interview, Musk advised “Particular Report” host Bret Baier, “We need to scale back spending by eliminating waste and fraud and scale back the spending by 15%. … The federal government just isn't environment friendly, and there’s plenty of waste and fraud. So we really feel assured {that a} 15% discount may be performed with out affecting any of the vital authorities providers.”

“Most taxpayers would typically agree, I imagine, that authorities transparency is an effective factor,” responded Hice, a former U.S. congressman.

That is very true of the voters who despatched fiscal conservatives like him to Washington, D.C., and who have been pissed off by the systematized sloth that prevented a number of good males from attacking acreage of bureaucratic kudzu with any software bigger than nail clippers.

“We'd typically simply beat our heads towards the wall, as a result of we might be so pissed off with the sum of money that the federal government is spending,” Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-Ind.) recalled on “Washington Watch.” And so he welcomed “the actual fact … that President Trump is permitting and asking Elon Musk and the DOGE staff to undergo the checkbook of the American taxpayer and discover waste, fraud, and abuse.”

“We all the time knew, instinctively, that the federal government was spending cash irresponsibly — not in locations that the American folks would ever approve,” acknowledged Stutzman. “We used to … assume, ‘Oh, it’s in all probability, you understand, possibly 1%, 2%.’ We’ve all recognized that there’s in all probability much more than that. And that’s what Elon is discovering.” As of April 1, the DOGE web site claimed an estimated $140 billion in financial savings, already greater than 2% of U.S. federal authorities expenditures in fiscal 12 months 2024 ($6.75 trillion).

“God all the time asks us to be gentle on this world,” argued Stutzman. “When there [are] issues, that you must shine a lightweight on the issue. And that’s what the DOGE staff is doing, shining a lightweight on all the spending. And we’re seeing the place our tax {dollars} are going, and it’s simply appalling.”

The first method by which the Bible calls Christ-followers to be “the sunshine of the world” is as fashions of righteous dwelling, in order that others “might even see your good works and provides glory to your Father who's in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16).

However the utility of this precept extends far past spiritual observance or religious disciplines. The apostle Paul wrote that “the fruit of sunshine is present in all that's good and proper and true” (Ephesians 5:9). Subsequently, he urged believers, “Take no half within the unfruitful works of darkness, however as an alternative expose them. … When something is uncovered by the sunshine, it turns into seen” (Ephesians 5:11, 13). Thus, “illumination” is an apter descriptor than “transparency.”

In different phrases, Stutzman is true to increase the biblical metaphor of “shining a lightweight” to exposing waste, fraud, and abuse in authorities.

One additional extension of the Bible’s “gentle” metaphor is suitable. Jesus taught in John 3 that “folks liked the darkness fairly than the sunshine as a result of their works have been evil. For everybody who does depraved issues hates the sunshine and doesn't come to the sunshine, lest his works needs to be uncovered. However whoever does what's true involves the sunshine, in order that it could be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God” (John 3:19-21). Probably the most direct utility is that depraved folks cover their sin, whereas the righteous repent of their sin and discover forgiveness.

However Jesus attracts out a reality about human nature that continues to be true in lesser contexts as nicely. Wrongdoers typically attempt to conceal their wrongdoing. If that is true, and if there are wrongdoers benefiting from waste, fraud, and abuse in funds of the federal authorities, then we might anticipate vital opposition to any try to show that waste, fraud, and abuse. (It doesn't observe from this that each DOGE critic wrongly advantages from authorities largesse; there are different reliable causes to criticize the division.)

In reality, among the DOGE’s findings are in step with a sample of tried concealment. One of many DOGE’s first targets was the U.S. Company for Worldwide Improvement, which was funding weird tasks like a transgender comedian ebook in Peru.

“It’s simpler to cover cash away from us abroad than it's to cover it right here in the USA,” Stutzman identified, and “the truth that President Trump and Elon Musk determined simply to close down USAID exhibits you ways dangerous it's … there.” On March 28, the U.S. State Division and USAID “notified Congress on their intent to undertake a reorganization that will contain realigning sure USAID capabilities to the Division by July 1, 2025, and discontinuing the remaining USAID capabilities that don't align with Administration priorities.”

Nonetheless, some DOGE detractors are “screaming very loudly” about Musk’s outsider staff bringing sunshine to the swamp, added Stutzman.

“I advised the Democrats … if that is what you’re happy with — in the event you really feel like these are the priorities of the American folks — you shouldn't have an issue with DOGE simply telling all of us the place our tax {dollars} are going, whether or not it’s DEI applications in South America, or whether or not it’s DEI applications within the Center East, or a 'Sesame Avenue' program for $20 million in Iraq,” Stutzman stipulated. “If these are your priorities, why are you upset that the DOGE staff is saying these on … social media, telling us what they’re discovering? I imply, if that’s what you need performed with federal tax {dollars}, then you definately shouldn’t have an issue with it.”

Right here, Jesus’ phrases echo loudly, “Everybody who does depraved issues hates the sunshine and doesn't come to the sunshine, lest his works needs to be uncovered” (John 3:20).