Philip A. Wallach

1 month ago | aei.org | Nat Malkus |Ramesh Ponnuru |Philip A. Wallach |Kevin R. Kosar

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) posts weekly reports of cost savings on its “wall of receipts.” These savings have come from federal employee terminations, grant and contract cancellations, and stoppages of agency outlays. But several observers have been skeptical of the savings numbers DOGE claims, and others have called into question whether the department’s actions run afoul of congressional appropriations acts. Is DOGE actually saving the money it claims it’s saving?

2 months ago | thedispatch.com | Kevin Williamson |Philip A. Wallach |Jonah Goldberg |Nick Catoggio

The thing about Donald Trump is, he’s Donald Trump. Briefly set aside any old-fashioned moral considerations about Donald Trump’s low personal character—as a purely analytical matter, that low character is the most direct and comprehensive way to understand what it is the administration is actually doing.

2 months ago | thedispatch.com | Paul Matzko |Gary Schmitt |Nick Catoggio |Philip A. Wallach

Policy And DOGE is like CREEP, but on steroids. Published February 19, 2025 “When the president does it, that means that it is not illegal.”—Richard Nixon, 1977“He who saves his Country does not violate any Law.”—Donald Trump, 2025Hollywood has led us to believe the myth that authoritarians are hyper-competent, ideologically driven supervillains. The reality is more often the opposite.

Jan 8, 2025 | understandingcongress.org | Philip A. Wallach

As it scrambled to pass a continuing resolution and avoid a government shutdown at the end of 2024, the 118th Congress ended much as it began—with serious doubts as to whether America’s legislature can rise to the level of bare competence. The House of Representatives is mainly adrift because of the difficulties Republicans had in electing a Speaker in January 2023 and the consequences of that struggle for the House Rules Committee.

Jan 7, 2025 | aei.org | Philip A. Wallach

As it scrambled to pass a continuing resolution and avoid a government shutdown at the end of 2024, the 118th Congress ended much as it began—with serious doubts as to whether America’s legislature can rise to the level of bare competence. The House of Representatives is mainly adrift because of the difficulties Republicans had in electing a Speaker in January 2023 and the consequences of that struggle for the House Rules Committee.