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17 ideas posted

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Department/Agency:

U.S. Department of Education

City:

Washington

Ideas contributed by Community Member

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  Ideas to Make Other Parts of Government More Efficient and Effective »

  HHS & ED with other federal agencies

  The President supports Promising Neighborhoods, early childhood educational programs, i3 grants, and the Race to the Top, all of which could be collapsed under HHS. Why combine programs at ED into 11 program areas and have separate departments when there appear to be overlapping functions like those in Promising Neighborhoods and the Parental Options programs at ED? It makes sense and would streamline the government. ...more »

  The President supports Promising Neighborhoods, early childhood educational programs, i3 grants, and the Race to the Top, all of which could be collapsed under HHS. Why combine programs at ED into 11 program areas and have separate departments when there appear to be overlapping functions like those in Promising Neighborhoods and the Parental Options programs at ED? It makes sense and would streamline the government. Similarly, some of the educational programs at NASA, NSF, NIH, Agriculture, the Smithsonian, etc. could also be curtailed and combined for a learner federal government.

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  24 votes

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  Federal Contractors

  Hire more federal workers who have an allegiance to this government rather than contractors who are committed to the next contract. Many government agencies have more contractors than federal workers and this change in strategy in Republican eras has increased the cost of doing business with the government while reducing individual contractors' pay and increasing the profits of companies owned by a few. More importantly, ...more »

  Hire more federal workers who have an allegiance to this government rather than contractors who are committed to the next contract. Many government agencies have more contractors than federal workers and this change in strategy in Republican eras has increased the cost of doing business with the government while reducing individual contractors' pay and increasing the profits of companies owned by a few. More importantly, there is little to no screening of the employees of companies who get these jobs, making us more vulnerable to breeches. When people aer more concerned about the next contract, too many potential vital national security interests slip.

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  More educational options for federal workers

  We need to assure federal workers receive educational benefits so that they can complete their college degrees to make our workforce more competitive and in line with current pay schedules. I'm very concerned that many valuable workers may leave because of the pay freeze and other actions that threaten the job security of federal workers. Paid educational opportunities that relate to degrees in areas where we need people ...more »

  We need to assure federal workers receive educational benefits so that they can complete their college degrees to make our workforce more competitive and in line with current pay schedules. I'm very concerned that many valuable workers may leave because of the pay freeze and other actions that threaten the job security of federal workers. Paid educational opportunities that relate to degrees in areas where we need people well educated and anlytical will help greatly.

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Increasing Trade, Exports, and Overall Competitiveness »

  Balance of Trade

  Our government should serve as a model by decreasing our purchases of goods from overseas until those countries that have a huge trade imbalance buy American products to keep American workers on the job.

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Incentives for coaching

  Often in a capitalistic economy and government, competition is encouraged. Why not reward random acts of kindness through coaching to help other employees get ahead in their careers? Our work environments need improvement and teamwork could be increased with more selfless acts

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  19 votes

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  Ideas to Make Other Parts of Government More Efficient and Effective »

  Two Year Federal Budget

  Change the federal budget process to a 2 year budget that comes up for renewal in an off presidential year to reduce the possibility of a government shutdown and to stave off the time consuming and therefore waste of time when Congress goes through these gridlocks.

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Eliminate No Cost Extensions

  Every year, hundreds of grantees fail to spend all of the money that has been awarded to them. If we eliminate no cost extensions and return the funds to the treasury, we will save money and reduce budgets without further action. In other words, the final year budget would automatically be reduced and this would save staff time (a cost) processing these extensions. We currently have a number of grantees who deliberately ...more »

  Every year, hundreds of grantees fail to spend all of the money that has been awarded to them. If we eliminate no cost extensions and return the funds to the treasury, we will save money and reduce budgets without further action. In other words, the final year budget would automatically be reduced and this would save staff time (a cost) processing these extensions. We currently have a number of grantees who deliberately save money each year for carryover in case there is no more funding for the next year. This needs to stop and the organizations that get these funds need to seek alternate funding sources if they are not using the federal funds in the alloted timeframes.

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Change the Law Regarding Citizenship for Babies Born Here

  Whenever Americans travel abroad, should babies be born, they are still American citizens. Similarly, we need to change our laws so that visitors and illegal immigrants and others from foreign countries with student visas who have babies here will not have these babies declared American citizens because of that birth. No other country does this. We need to stop because of the inferred rights granted to children and parents. ...more »

  Whenever Americans travel abroad, should babies be born, they are still American citizens. Similarly, we need to change our laws so that visitors and illegal immigrants and others from foreign countries with student visas who have babies here will not have these babies declared American citizens because of that birth. No other country does this. We need to stop because of the inferred rights granted to children and parents. As a result of these births, we area less likely to deport the parents, even for serious offenses. These children compete with American citizens for college scholarships and placements, medical treatment, social security, housing and other options paid by taxpayer dollars.

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  17 comments for Idea: Change the Law Regarding Citizenship for Babies Born Here

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  10 votes

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  Combine CIA and FBI

  For some time now, the CIA and FBI have had similar missions, the former supposedly overseas and the latter here at home. Why not combine the 2 agencies to save money and curtail training costs, personnel costs, etc.

  4 comments for Idea: Combine CIA and FBI

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Pilot one online federal agency

  As an innovation, we should test a completely online small agency to determine the savings, increased employee morale, reduction in eeo complaints and day-to-day work force grievances. By closing an agency and making it entirely online, we can save money. I recommend we pilot a completely online environment for social security.

  1 comment for Idea: Pilot one online federal agency

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  11 votes

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  Increasing Trade, Exports, and Overall Competitiveness »

  Close Military Bases Overseas & Provide Military Civilian Jobs

  Most of the military bases overseas need to be closed and military personnel retrofitted for civilian jobs. In other words, there is no need to end their employment, there is enough work on the country's police forces, in building the country's infrastructure, and other areas. I have been concerned about the rate of base closings here and not abroad.

  1 comment for Idea: Close Military Bases Overseas & Provide Military Civilian Jobs

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  14 votes

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  Ideas to Make Other Parts of Government More Efficient and Effective »

  Federal Hiring Freeze

  I'm recommending a hiring freeze until it is clear what all current new employees are doing through a job audit of each new position. In some principal offices, it appears new employees are being added for their youth rather than their talent, skills or abilities and that many have nothing to do at a time of budget crunch.

  6 comments for Idea: Federal Hiring Freeze

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  35 votes

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  Shared Office Spaces for those who Telework

  It makes sense that employees who telework for 1/2 or more time should share office space with each other to cut government costs.

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  11 votes

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  Increasing Trade, Exports, and Overall Competitiveness »

  Cut SES jobs by 10 percent per year for 5 years

  In some agencies, the jobs of SESers in the federal work force can successfully be completed by Grade 15 level employees. By cutting employees who are SESers by 10% per year, we will both increase the efficiency of most agencies and save money.

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Increasing Trade, Exports, and Overall Competitiveness »

  Ban on foreign cars that are gas guzzlers

  We are struggling with clean air from American made cars and need to ban the import of gas guzzlers from other countries. Restrictions on the sale of cars that get less than 30 miles per gallon would both increase the air quality and increase competition for the sale of American made cars.

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  12 votes

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  Increasing Trade, Exports, and Overall Competitiveness »

  Reduce imports of food into America and increase exports of food

  We are paying our farmers not to farm. Some of these are the largest farms in the country. Why not export food from American farms to increase the nutritional value by decreasing the use of pesticides that are contributing to cancers in America. Many countries lack the restrictions we have on fertilizers and also lack the regulations for sanitary conditions we have here. We already export substantial amounts of food for ...more »

  We are paying our farmers not to farm. Some of these are the largest farms in the country. Why not export food from American farms to increase the nutritional value by decreasing the use of pesticides that are contributing to cancers in America. Many countries lack the restrictions we have on fertilizers and also lack the regulations for sanitary conditions we have here. We already export substantial amounts of food for free. In some parts of our country, Americans won't buy food products in particular from other countries, especially those who support the military. We need to create more jobs here by exporting our excess crops instead of paying farmers not to farm.

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  SBIR - cut program and centralize to save

  Many government agencies have small business innovation research funds available for non-profit organizations. Why not have these competitions centralized in one location with federal officials from the other agencies reading the proposals that relate to their agencies to save money.

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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