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Democrats Are Plotting Government Efficiency in a Post-DOGE World

20 days ago
  • New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani launched a 'PIT Crew' to improve city online systems, exemplified by a go-kart event at Coney Island.
  • Democratic governors like Virginia's Abigail Spanberger and Pennsylvania's Josh Shapiro are creating their own digital service teams to modernize government services.
  • Many team leaders are former members of the U.S. Digital Service, an Obama-era tech unit that Trump transformed into DOGE.
  • These state and city initiatives aim to counter DOGE's approach and prove Democrats can govern efficiently, focusing on tangible improvements like 'click-to-cancel' rules and online payment systems.
  • Over 4,000 people applied to join New York's PIT Crew, which will build services in-house rather than using contractors.
  • The teams also address impacts of federal cuts, such as Medicaid work requirements, by improving system interoperability to prevent coverage loss.
  • Success will depend on executing unglamorous tasks like procurement and hiring, with top-down support from elected officials.