The Reality of DOGE vs. The Death of the American Dream

The following editorial was originally published in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Sunday, April 6th as part of the “Raise Your Hand” column in the Insight section.

By Prescott Yamanaca and Vivien Wong, Hawaii Baptist Academy Class of 2026

The Reality of DOGE by Prescott Yamanaca

On January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump announced the creation of the Department
of Government Efficiency, headed by his senior advisor, Elon Musk. The primary purpose of the
newly formed advisory body is to reduce government spending and waste in an effort to address
our nation’s growing deficit. As part of this initiative, DOGE has already taken steps to eliminate
unnecessary government programs and agencies. Despite facing scrutiny and an uphill battle, if
successful, DOGE could enhance government transparency, ensure tax dollars are spent in
alignment with citizens’ priorities, and help secure a better future for generations to come.

A key priority of DOGE is eliminating wasteful government spending. One of its most
controversial initiatives thus far has been scaling back Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs.
While some may view this move as an attack on diversity and inclusion itself, DEI initiatives
have been used to justify policies that are questionable at best. During the Biden administration,
the Department of Education alone spent over $1 billion on DEI programs, raising concerns
about whether this truly serves the nation’s interests. With DOGE’s help and guidance, much-
needed change can be made.

The Trump administration is also refocusing hiring practices on merit rather than
immutable characteristics such as race or sex. For example, following the death of George Floyd,
many companies pledged “to add more people of color to their workforce.” By 2022, some large
companies even began paying executives bonuses to meet “diversity” targets. People should not
receive financial incentives for increasing racial diversity in their organizations, as this
encourages superficial and unfair hiring practices. Prioritizing diversity quotas over merit can
lead to hiring employees based on race rather than their qualifications.

Beyond spending cuts, DOGE’s efforts aim to improve the relationship between the
government and its citizens by reducing bureaucratic bloat. As the White House has noted, “The
government wastes billions of dollars each year on duplicative programs and frivolous
expenditures that fail to align with American values or address the needs of the American
people.” A leaner federal government can be more accountable to the American people and
better aligned with their priorities. Moreover, the government can redirect taxpayer dollars to
projects the general public truly desires, fostering greater trust in the institution of government.

Another pressing issue DOGE seeks to address is the impending insolvency of Social
Security. According to the latest Social Security trustees report, the Social Security trust fund
will run out of money by 2035. To put this into perspective, by the time my parents retire, Social
Security may no longer be available. The program could be long depleted by the time my
generation reaches retirement age. This means people are actively paying into a system that will
most certainly not exist in its current form by the time they are eligible for its benefits. Even
though some critics argue that any savings will only help to keep Social Security funded for
longer than currently projected, DOGE is starting a conversation that policymakers have ignored
for decades.

Admittedly, the long-term impact of DOGE is still uncertain, but the initiative’s mission
and the proposed reforms can strengthen the nation’s financial future. If the government
continues turning a blind eye to its unsustainable spending habits and impending economic
catastrophe, society will be in a mess. Previous presidents have tried to fix these economic
issues, but none have been successful or, worse, have exacerbated the problem. President
Trump’s plan to rejuvenate the economy through drastic government reform is a necessary step
in the right direction.

The Death of the American Dream by Vivian Wong

President Donald Trump's first days in office have been eventful and anything but
peaceful. In just a few months, he made sweeping government changes and signed a record
number of executive orders, capturing the attention of millions. While these executive actions are
framed as efforts to bring about positive change and efficiency, his plans to shut down entire
departments and drastically shrink the size of government will have detrimental consequences on
the lives of Americans.

Many citizens are experiencing anxiety under the Trump administration’s unpredictable
actions. Reducing the size of the government places an unnecessary burden on workers.
Hundreds of thousands of federal workers are facing furloughs, leaving them in a state of
uncertainty. Some have even been fired just to be rehired days later. Many are unsure whether to
seek new jobs, while those who remain worry about the future of their positions.

This instability causes stress and anxiety for not only the employees but also the people
who rely on them. Veterans who depend on the services of the Department of Veterans Affairs
fear that their hospitals will shut down, while other essential services risk being disrupted. This
dramatic reduction in the federal workforce has already destabilized countless lives and will
continue to do so.

Some argue that reducing the size of government will cut costs and improve the
economy. However, this perspective ignores the importance of federal workers. Federal jobs can
make up as much as 7% of a district's total employment, meaning federal workers are a major
contributor to the economy. The Trump administration’s mass layoffs create a ripple effect,
slowing economic growth and increasing the risk of a recession. Without stable incomes, more
citizens will struggle to afford basic necessities and feel immense pressure to work harder to
make ends meet. This economic instability contradicts the administration’s alleged desire to
bring about a new “Golden Age” of America.

There are other consequences to the Trump administration’s government cuts, such as
environmental impacts. Beyond the mass firing, his administration has dismantled programs that
aid polluted communities and even scrubbed references to climate change from federal websites.
The U.S. was expected to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions over the next decade.
However, Trump’s policies will reverse that progress, promote planet-warming pollution and
slow the advance of cleaner technologies. Nature is a source of peace and spiritual connection for
many, but it is also essential to public health. Allowing our air quality to deteriorate is reckless
and immoral. Not only will this devastate our beautiful landscapes, air, and water, but it will also
pose serious risks to our health.

In times like these, we must remember that a president's duty is to represent this country
and improve the lives of ordinary citizens. We must go back to the principles outlined in our
founding documents and uphold the constitutional roles of each branch of government. Serving
the people is one of the president's most significant roles, and President Trump is actively
disregarding that role through his executive orders. He cannot represent this country if he fails to
listen to the people's voices. If the president fails to fulfill this role, the Constitution grants the
people the freedom to stand against it through freedom of speech. In Trump’s own words, let's
“make America great again.”