Linda Barton

State College

President Trump’s second term began with a whirlwind of activity, claiming increased efficiency and transparency. But that’s not what’s happening.

Merriam-Webster defines transparency as “free from pretense or deceit, readily understood, and characterized by visibility or accessibility of information, especially concerning business practices,” and defines efficiency as “capable of producing desired results with little or no waste.”

How’s it efficient or transparent when:

— Civil servants are fired, rehired, and fired again;

— Justifications for firing are false, i.e., employees are claimed to lack skills after receiving outstanding performance reviews;

— Fired employees don’t receive mandated information about filing for unemployment and maintaining health insurance;

— Employees are fired in agencies actively recruiting because they are short-staffed, including the Federal Aviation Administration and Centers for Disease Control;

— Costs of firings haven’t considered costs to public safety and the federal budget, such as the increase in unemployment benefits;

— Claims about money saved from firings are sparse and inaccurate;

— Sources require anonymity to protect them from retaliation;

— White House, cabinet offices, and DOGE refuse to answer media requests for comments.

Last week one-third of United States Digital Service technicians resigned rather than work for DOGE, refusing to compromise and dismantle core government systems and jeopardize Americans’ personal data.

Don’t be fooled. We’re getting unchecked power and cruelty, not efficiency and transparency. We’re also being set up: the claimed “spending cuts” are used to justify planned tax cuts for wealthy individuals and corporations.

This doesn’t Make America Great Again.