Dave Davies

You know, I wonder if, you know, workers are, while they're getting these messages from the top, are having their personal supervisors reassure them at all saying, look, this is not something we're doing. What you do is important. We want to keep doing it. Hang in there. Have you heard things like that?

You know, I wonder if, you know, workers are, while they're getting these messages from the top, are having their personal supervisors reassure them at all saying, look, this is not something we're doing. What you do is important. We want to keep doing it. Hang in there. Have you heard things like that?

You know, I wonder if, you know, workers are, while they're getting these messages from the top, are having their personal supervisors reassure them at all saying, look, this is not something we're doing. What you do is important. We want to keep doing it. Hang in there. Have you heard things like that?

There have been media reports of people who were discharged with language about poor performance or similar language, but who have said in interviews that they've had nothing but positive performance reports. Generally speaking, what kinds of rights do they have to appeal these firings?

There have been media reports of people who were discharged with language about poor performance or similar language, but who have said in interviews that they've had nothing but positive performance reports. Generally speaking, what kinds of rights do they have to appeal these firings?

There have been media reports of people who were discharged with language about poor performance or similar language, but who have said in interviews that they've had nothing but positive performance reports. Generally speaking, what kinds of rights do they have to appeal these firings?

We're going to take another break here. Let me reintroduce you. We are speaking with Elizabeth Lino. She is an associate professor of public policy and management at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. She'll be back to talk more after this short break. I'm Dave Davies, and this is Fresh Air.

We're going to take another break here. Let me reintroduce you. We are speaking with Elizabeth Lino. She is an associate professor of public policy and management at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. She'll be back to talk more after this short break. I'm Dave Davies, and this is Fresh Air.

We're going to take another break here. Let me reintroduce you. We are speaking with Elizabeth Lino. She is an associate professor of public policy and management at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. She'll be back to talk more after this short break. I'm Dave Davies, and this is Fresh Air.

You know, it's not a new complaint that government is bloated and wasteful. And there have been efforts by past presidents to trim the workforce. Can you talk a bit about that and what kind of results they produced?

You know, it's not a new complaint that government is bloated and wasteful. And there have been efforts by past presidents to trim the workforce. Can you talk a bit about that and what kind of results they produced?

You know, it's not a new complaint that government is bloated and wasteful. And there have been efforts by past presidents to trim the workforce. Can you talk a bit about that and what kind of results they produced?

Can you think of an example of that, a particular service or function which got privatized and kind of simply displaced the workforce outside the federal employment?

Can you think of an example of that, a particular service or function which got privatized and kind of simply displaced the workforce outside the federal employment?

Can you think of an example of that, a particular service or function which got privatized and kind of simply displaced the workforce outside the federal employment?

In writing about these recent reductions, you wrote, the administration seems to be weakening or fully eliminating teams that were doing exactly the kind of work DOGE, the Department of Government Efficiency, claims to value. Focus on data, evaluation, and customer service teams that have spent years.

In writing about these recent reductions, you wrote, the administration seems to be weakening or fully eliminating teams that were doing exactly the kind of work DOGE, the Department of Government Efficiency, claims to value. Focus on data, evaluation, and customer service teams that have spent years.

In writing about these recent reductions, you wrote, the administration seems to be weakening or fully eliminating teams that were doing exactly the kind of work DOGE, the Department of Government Efficiency, claims to value. Focus on data, evaluation, and customer service teams that have spent years.

reducing bureaucratic red tape, modernizing service delivery, and bringing in critical tech talent. In other words, there were people out there doing the kind of work that Doge was supposed to do, how to get more for the taxpayer's dollar. Some might be skeptical of that statement. Can you give us an example of this?

reducing bureaucratic red tape, modernizing service delivery, and bringing in critical tech talent. In other words, there were people out there doing the kind of work that Doge was supposed to do, how to get more for the taxpayer's dollar. Some might be skeptical of that statement. Can you give us an example of this?