1. Where are the biggest opportunities to streamline and modernize government processes?
2. How can we use government resources more efficiently and effectively?
3. Is there overlap or duplication within the federal government that could be consolidated or eliminated?
479 votes
Some of our elected officials serve for a very short period of time. Once they retire or are voted out the American people should not have to continue paying them salaries and benefits. Or at the very least, their retirement and benefits should reflect the amount of time served and be in line with the general population.
437 votes
Congress and their staffs should be subjected to the same benefits as regular feds.
1. FERS
2. Paying health insurance.
391 votes
We need to have an option for our healthcare providers to select that would put the prescription in a status that would not send out a patients medications until the patient requests them. When prescriptions get renewed, often the provider just wishes to add refills. Currently, our system assumes that it needs to go ahead and ship out an order. Often the patient doesn't need the medication now. This is a source of ...more »
We need to have an option for our healthcare providers to select that would put the prescription in a status that would not send out a patients medications until the patient requests them. When prescriptions get renewed, often the provider just wishes to add refills. Currently, our system assumes that it needs to go ahead and ship out an order. Often the patient doesn't need the medication now. This is a source of waste and frustration for our patients.
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382 votes
It is time for the government to get away from punishing agencies for not spending their entire budgets and start rewarding agencies/personnel for going under budget. The EOY spending frenzy is out of control and wasted spending costs the government a rediculous amount of money. I know this is certainly not a new or original idea. But lets make sure the President truly understands how much money is wasted by this ...more »
It is time for the government to get away from punishing agencies for not spending their entire budgets and start rewarding agencies/personnel for going under budget. The EOY spending frenzy is out of control and wasted spending costs the government a rediculous amount of money.
I know this is certainly not a new or original idea. But lets make sure the President truly understands how much money is wasted by this practice.
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356 votes
The legal and procedural hurdles to removing unproductive employees make it nearly impossible to achieve. Even with well-documented and long-standing evidence of shoddy work and low productivity, it has taken us almost 5 years to remove one employee. If you count all the time that management, workforce management, and legal spent working on this case, plus the employee's salary, the cost runs near a half million dollars. ...more »
The legal and procedural hurdles to removing unproductive employees make it nearly impossible to achieve. Even with well-documented and long-standing evidence of shoddy work and low productivity, it has taken us almost 5 years to remove one employee. If you count all the time that management, workforce management, and legal spent working on this case, plus the employee's salary, the cost runs near a half million dollars.
The process of removing unproductive employees needs to be streamlined.
Edit: I would be interested in hearing others' experience with performance management of chronic poor performers, and whether they were able to use the system to terminate their employment.
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321 votes
This should be eliminted. Encourage agencies to return this money to the treasury. Certainly this would save the taxpayers BILLIONS of dollars per year. Why aren't there incentives for agencies to return that money? This would certainly be a much better use of tax payer funds than just spending it because we fear not getting the same amount next year. If an agency doesn't need the money then they should have to return ...more »
This should be eliminted. Encourage agencies to return this money to the treasury. Certainly this would save the taxpayers BILLIONS of dollars per year. Why aren't there incentives for agencies to return that money? This would certainly be a much better use of tax payer funds than just spending it because we fear not getting the same amount next year. If an agency doesn't need the money then they should have to return it and not expect to have to have to spend it out of fear of not getting the same amount again for the next budget cycle.
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313 votes
15% pay cut for the Senate and Congress Members effective immediately. Retirement benefits and pension for Senate and Congress members cut by 75% (current members and those already retired). Government (free) Healthcare for Senate and Congress members cut 100% to allow them to purchase their own Healthcare Package and pay into healthcare system. Basically start cuts from the top and work downward (spenditure, travel, ...more »
15% pay cut for the Senate and Congress Members effective immediately.
Retirement benefits and pension for Senate and Congress members cut by 75% (current members and those already retired).
Government (free) Healthcare for Senate and Congress members cut 100% to allow them to purchase their own Healthcare Package and pay into healthcare system.
Basically start cuts from the top and work downward (spenditure, travel, property, and finance).
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298 votes
...the supervisor's performance appraisal/rating.
I believe that the current rating system allows most supervisors to exploit the well-being of their employees for the pursuit of "management's" goals. Good managers get the "job" done without sacrificing those they lead.
283 votes
We travel all the time to meet and for training. With such budget problems is travel really needed with our current technology. Why can't we make the best of it for now and use web, video and phone conferencing. When times are good we can travel again. Thanks EDIT: I found these posts buried down in the hundreds of ideas. Thanks to the authors: http://governmentreform.ideascale.com/a/dtd/Elimninate-End-of-Year-Spending/118530-13060 ...more »
We travel all the time to meet and for training. With such budget problems is travel really needed with our current technology.
Why can't we make the best of it for now and use web, video and phone conferencing.
When times are good we can travel again.
Thanks
EDIT: I found these posts buried down in the hundreds of ideas.
Thanks to the authors:
http://governmentreform.ideascale.com/a/dtd/Elimninate-End-of-Year-Spending/118530-13060
http://governmentreform.ideascale.com/a/dtd/Utilize-the-Site/120215-13060
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282 votes
During federal government furloughs due to a budget impasse make Congress work, but don't pay them for that time. This will encourage them to more quickly come to a deal.
258 votes
We buy computers from Dell. Each computer comes with a license from Microsoft. (Sticker with license key) We then buy an Enterprise license to install Windows (any version) on that computer. Dell sells computers without Windows. We can buy our computers without Microsoft licenses, and then install our Enterprise software. (Volume Licensing) We never use the preinstalled version, and we never use the license key we pay ...more »
We buy computers from Dell. Each computer comes with a license from Microsoft. (Sticker with license key) We then buy an Enterprise license to install Windows (any version) on that computer. Dell sells computers without Windows. We can buy our computers without Microsoft licenses, and then install our Enterprise software. (Volume Licensing)
We never use the preinstalled version, and we never use the license key we pay for that comes with the computer. Currently, Microsoft gets payment for two copies of Windows for every computer we purchase.
We can save millions across the government.
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237 votes
Drop ALL the other hiring, application and job annoucement systems except for USAJOBS. There is AVUE, the army, the navy and more. Why are we paying for redundent systems, maintenance and upkeep. By putting it all under one system we could even allow HR to search resumes and solicit applications. The US Government needs to hire the very best so why do we create additional hoops for applicants to jump through or have ...more »
Drop ALL the other hiring, application and job annoucement systems except for USAJOBS. There is AVUE, the army, the navy and more. Why are we paying for redundent systems, maintenance and upkeep. By putting it all under one system we could even allow HR to search resumes and solicit applications. The US Government needs to hire the very best so why do we create additional hoops for applicants to jump through or have numerous systems for them to find, set up and apply through?
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234 votes
Reduce or eliminate congressional salaries for anyone with a net worth more than $3,000,000, or with an income greater than $300,000 per year. These fools spend millions for a job that pays $174,000 - so do they really need the salary?
229 votes
The Federal Government needs to change guidelines for releasing employees who are below par. We need to trim the fat for a more efficient and effective public service workforce. The current setup is ineffective for getting rid of those that are incompetent.
222 votes
Close all government offices on each Friday. Work scheduling options: 8-10 hours per day or 32-40 hours per week.
217 votes
Everyone who requests government assistance should be drug tested. Candidates must pass drug testing in order to receive assistance. PERIOD!!!!
This will reduce the amount of people applying for assistance and also reduce government aide to the ones who really need it and are trying to help themselves.
216 votes
Telework should be the norm on a daily basis, where possible. Those who have responsibilities that require limited office interaction should be able to reserve and utilize temporary office space. Only those who must routinely use the office should have permanent space. This will allow the following: (1) Reduction in government office space (and associated rents, utilities, office supplies). (2) Reduction in transportation ...more »
Telework should be the norm on a daily basis, where possible. Those who have responsibilities that require limited office interaction should be able to reserve and utilize temporary office space. Only those who must routinely use the office should have permanent space. This will allow the following:
(1) Reduction in government office space (and associated rents, utilities, office supplies).
(2) Reduction in transportation allowances.
(3) Reduction in COLA pay, as those who are capable of full-time telework could work from anywhere, including low-COL locations.
(4) More qualified workforce -- as qualified applicants who otherwise would be unable or unwilling to relocate to the vicinity of a specific office would still be able to secure the job and successfully function.
(5) Robustness -- A distributed government workforce would be less vulnerable to terrorist attacks, weather, disasters, and other external threats that might otherwise interrupt government service.
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210 votes
There are several employees who are working for the VA who are also receiving a disablity check from the VA every month. Why should an employee who can work a full time job at a GS11 or GS12 received a disability payment from the VA? These employees are not disabled and shouldn't be recieving a government welfare check every month for being able to work a full time job. This is a huge amount of money being wasted. ...more »
There are several employees who are working for the VA who are also receiving a disablity check from the VA every month. Why should an employee who can work a full time job at a GS11 or GS12 received a disability payment from the VA? These employees are not disabled and shouldn't be recieving a government welfare check every month for being able to work a full time job. This is a huge amount of money being wasted. I think the Congress needs to fix this loophole in the law and correct this. Certainly this could save several millions of dollars a year
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206 votes
The government should encourage Hiring employees instead of using contract employees at the VA. Being a contracting officer I know for a fact we waste Millions of dollars a year on contracting instead of just hiring. Maybe it's time to look at hiring bonuses or actually implementing student loan repayment for all essential personnel within the government to encourage hiring permanent employees instead of contract employees. ...more »
The government should encourage Hiring employees instead of using contract employees at the VA. Being a contracting officer I know for a fact we waste Millions of dollars a year on contracting instead of just hiring. Maybe it's time to look at hiring bonuses or actually implementing student loan repayment for all essential personnel within the government to encourage hiring permanent employees instead of contract employees. The potential savings could be realized in the first month after implementation.
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205 votes
Every year we scurry around to spend end-of-year money. Halve the time things get bought that are not really used simply to spend the money out of fear that if we don't spend it, our budget will get cut. I suggest that we allow for the roll over of that end-of-year money into a surplus account that could then be used when needed, for things that are truly needed.
194 votes
Members of Congress should not be allowed to set their own salary without regard to performance, profit, or economic climate. They should not be allowed to set their salaries at all, nor give themselves raises.
185 votes
I believe that a majority of the issues the federal government experiences can be traced back to the inability of managers to remove ineffective employees (line workers and managers). Instead, these employees are either ignored or moved to other agencies until they retire or quit. The main problem with this is that talented, effective people - young and old- could fill those positions and bring a wide range of expertise ...more »
I believe that a majority of the issues the federal government experiences can be traced back to the inability of managers to remove ineffective employees (line workers and managers). Instead, these employees are either ignored or moved to other agencies until they retire or quit. The main problem with this is that talented, effective people - young and old- could fill those positions and bring a wide range of expertise and excitement to the government. The initiative to improve hiring practices is a start, but unless the issue of ineffective employees is addressed, it will only be partially successful and in addition, the federal payroll will continue to appear bloated. The rights of federal workers would need to be respected if a plan like this was considered.
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182 votes
Federal employees should be required to take and pass a proficiency test for composition and writing skills as well as basic math skills for any promotion over the GS-9 level. This would make selecting the best person for the job far easier and more fair. It would increase productivity and efficiency and you could actually do more with less! Far too many federal employees (even with a college degree) are functionally ...more »
Federal employees should be required to take and pass a proficiency test for composition and writing skills as well as basic math skills for any promotion over the GS-9 level. This would make selecting the best person for the job far easier and more fair. It would increase productivity and efficiency and you could actually do more with less! Far too many federal employees (even with a college degree) are functionally illiterate. When asked to produce written work it often must be re-done by another employee. Eventually, the functionally illiterate employee is not asked to complete that sort of work. This puts an unfair burden on other employees who must make up for his lack of skill and work twice as hard. As well as using twice the manpower than it should, is a morale breaker and makes it more difficult and time consuming to get a product out. This would not apply to mentally challenged individuals.
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180 votes
More and more positions are being filled with contract employees in order for agencies to be able to show a reduction in the number of government hires. Unfortunately, the cost to the tax payer for contract employees is, in most cases, significantly higher than for a government employee in the same position. Contract fees are exorbitantly high. I have seen fees upwards of 60% in my agency...i.e., for a contract employee ...more »
More and more positions are being filled with contract employees in order for agencies to be able to show a reduction in the number of government hires. Unfortunately, the cost to the tax payer for contract employees is, in most cases, significantly higher than for a government employee in the same position. Contract fees are exorbitantly high. I have seen fees upwards of 60% in my agency...i.e., for a contract employee being paid a salary of $50,000, the additional fees run around $30,000
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176 votes
GovTrip is required to be used for Federal Govt travel. The fare are outrageously expensive AND they charge us $15 to book flights. Allow employees to book their own flights with nonrefundable tickets. This saves the $15 per trip AND the flights are much less expensive.
IE: Recently we compared flights from Fresno to Missoula via internet was $420 the same flights from GovTrip was over $1200.
