Proper Government Downsizing

Operation Massive Government Downsizing: Eliminating Waste, Bureaucracy, and Inefficiency

Michigan government has grown bloated, wasteful, and unresponsive. Decades of mission creep, redundant agencies, special-interest programs, and unchecked spending have burdened taxpayers while delivering poor results. The Michigan First Movement demands massive downsizing, a ruthless purge of waste, duplication, and non-essential functions. Every program must justify its existence or be eliminated. The goal is a lean, efficient, citizen-focused government that does only what it must — and does it exceptionally well.

Core Strategy: Zero-Based Government

We will not tinker at the edges. We will rebuild state government from the ground up, using zero-based budgeting, automatic sunsets, and strict performance standards.

Key Downsizing Actions

1. Zero-Based Budgeting and Agency Sunsets

• Mandatory Zero-Based Budgeting: Every state agency and program must justify its entire budget from scratch every two years. No automatic carryover of previous funding.

• Universal Sunset Clause: All state agencies, boards, commissions, and programs automatically expire every 6–8 years unless explicitly reauthorized by the Legislature after rigorous review. Default is elimination.

• Massive Consolidation: Merge or eliminate redundant departments. Target reductions of at least 30–50% in the number of state agencies and commissions within the first term.

2. Elimination of Wasteful and Ineffective Programs

• Immediate Defunding Targets (examples of categories to be ruthlessly reviewed and cut):

  • Non-essential DEI, equity, and social justice offices and programs.

  • Ineffective or ideologically driven education initiatives that fail to improve outcomes.

  • Redundant economic development boards and corporate welfare schemes.

  • Underperforming arts and cultural grants that serve narrow interests.

  • Overlapping environmental and regulatory enforcement bodies.

  • Unnecessary middle-management and administrative bloat.

  • Programs with high overhead but low measurable public benefit.

• Performance Kill Switch: Any program that fails to meet predefined outcome metrics for two consecutive cycles is automatically defunded.

3. Workforce and Compensation Reform

• Hiring Freeze and Attrition: Immediate hiring freeze on non-essential positions. Reduce headcount through attrition and targeted layoffs of redundant staff.

• Pension and Benefit Reform: Transition all new state employees to defined-contribution plans (401k-style). Reform existing pensions to sustainable levels.

• Salary Caps and Transparency: Cap top executive and administrative salaries. Full public disclosure of all state employee compensation and benefits.

4. Privatization and Outsourcing

• Privatize Non-Core Functions: Shift services like vehicle maintenance, IT, food services in institutions, and certain administrative tasks to competitive private providers.

• Public-Private Partnerships: Use competition to deliver better results at lower cost in areas such as infrastructure maintenance and certain social services.

5. Regulatory and Bureaucratic Reduction

• Two-for-One Rule: For every new regulation proposed, two existing ones must be repealed.

• Regulatory Sunset: All regulations expire after 5–7 years unless re-justified.

• Permit Fast-Track: Dramatic reduction in permitting times for businesses, homes, and energy projects.

Funding the Transition and Delivering Tax Relief

• Savings Reinvestment: All savings from downsizing will first reduce the deficit, then accelerate tax cuts under the Tax Elimination Plan (energy dominance, tariffs, growth).

• Sovereign Wealth Boost: Redirect efficiency savings and asset sales into the Michigan Sovereign Wealth Fund to support citizen dividends and long-term tax freedom.

Implementation and Safeguards

• Downsizing Commission: Bipartisan (or citizen-heavy) commission with binding recommendations for agency eliminations and consolidations. Strong legislative oversight to prevent self-preservation.

• Legislation: Pass the Michigan Government Downsizing and Efficiency Act with aggressive timelines and enforcement mechanisms.

• Transparency Dashboard: Real-time public tracking of agencies eliminated, positions cut, dollars saved, and services improved or maintained.

• Essential Services Protection: Core functions (public safety, infrastructure maintenance, basic education funding via choice) will be strengthened, not cut.

Expected Outcomes

• Dramatic reduction in state government size and cost (target: 30–50% smaller within one decade).

• Billions in annual savings redirected to tax relief and citizen prosperity.

• Faster, more responsive government focused on essentials.

• Increased economic growth as bureaucracy shrinks and opportunity expands.

• Restoration of taxpayer trust that government serves them, not the other way around.

Government is too big, too slow, and too expensive. Michigan will lead the nation by proving that less government can deliver better results when focused on what truly matters.

Cut the Waste. Shrink the State. Free our People.

This platform will be introduced immediately. We call on every taxpayer, business owner, and citizen tired of wasteful government to demand these reforms.

Smaller Government. More Prosperous Michigan.