Wow, Such Efficiency! The 1911 DOGE That Started It All

Grok Ai Posted by @DogeGeorgia on July 14, 2025

Much wow, frens! Did you know there was a DOGE before DOGE? Way back in 1911, long before Elon and Vivek barked about slashing red tape in 2025, President William Howard Taft unleashed a proto-DOGE: the Commission on Economy and Efficiency. This wasn’t just some dusty government committee—it was a bold move to make the feds leaner, meaner, and way more shibe-tastic. Let’s dig into this historical gem and see how it connects to our modern Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Grab your moon boots, because we’re going back in time!

The 1911 DOGE: A Shibe-Sized Revolution

Picture this: it’s 1911, and the U.S. government is a bit like a shaggy pup—loveable but kinda messy. Departments are duplicating work, spending cash like it’s kibble, and nobody’s got a clear leash on the budget. Enter President Taft, a big guy with an even bigger idea: make the government *efficient*. He creates the Commission on Economy and Efficiency under the authority of Congress, with a mission to sniff out waste, streamline operations, and—get this—propose the first-ever federal budget system.(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commission_on_Economy_and_Efficiency)

Led by Frederick Cleveland, a budget wizard from the New York Bureau of Municipal Research, the commission was like the Avengers of early 20th-century reform. Their goals? Slash unnecessary costs, stop agencies from stepping on each other’s paws, and bring modern business practices to the feds. They weren’t just chasing their tails—they were serious about making government work better for the people.(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commission_on_Economy_and_Efficiency)

The Big Exhibition: Such Tech, Much Wow

On July 14, 1911, the commission threw a pawsome event: an exhibition of labor-saving office devices in Washington, D.C., running from July 6–15. Over 110 manufacturers and dealers showed off cutting-edge tech—like typewriters, adding machines, and filing systems—that could make government offices zoom. More than 10,000 government workers dropped by to see these shiny new tools, proving that even back then, folks knew tech was the key to efficiency. The commission’s report noted that this expo was a “step preparatory” to deeper investigations, showing they were ready to fetch real results.[](https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/message-the-congress-economy-and-efficiency-the-government-service)

This wasn’t just a tech show—it was a signal that the government could learn from private-sector smarts. The commission studied how these devices were already used in some agencies and pushed for wider adoption to cut costs and boost productivity. They even tackled “unnecessary cost of copy work,” showing they were laser-focused on trimming the fat.(https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/message-the-congress-economy-and-efficiency-the-government-service)

Why It Matters: The First Federal Budget

The 1911 DOGE’s biggest win? Proposing the first federal budget system. Before this, the government’s spending was like a shibe chasing squirrels—scattered and hard to track. The commission’s 1912 report, “The Need for a National Budget,” laid the groundwork for the Budget and Accounting Act of 1921, which made the President responsible for submitting an annual budget to Congress. This was huge, frens—it brought order to the chaos and set a standard for fiscal responsibility that’s still with us today.(https://taxproject.org/government-efficiency-timeline/)(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commission_on_Economy_and_Efficiency)

They also pushed for other reforms, like putting local officers (think postmasters and tax collectors) into a merit-based system to avoid political favoritism, and centralizing government publications to save cash. Some ideas, like merging the Revenue-Cutter Service with other agencies, sparked debates, but the commission’s focus on data-driven decisions and cutting duplication was pure gold.(https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/message-the-congress-economy-and-efficiency-the-government-service-0)

The Progressive Era: When Efficiency Was the Meme

The 1911 commission was part of the Progressive Era, a time when folks were obsessed with making everything—government, factories, even society—run smoother. This “Efficiency Movement” was like the Dogecoin of its day: everyone wanted in. Thinkers like Frederick Winslow Taylor, the OG of “scientific management,” inspired the commission to apply business principles to government. States like Massachusetts and Virginia got in on the action, setting up their own efficiency commissions by 1912 and 1916.(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Efficiency_movement)[](https://uncommonwealth.virginiamemory.com/blog/2016/02/17/studies-of-economy-and-efficiency-in-government-are-not-new/)

But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Congress didn’t always wag its tail for Taft’s reforms, and funding was tight—only $175,000 for the first two years, with a measly $12,252 spent on initial inquiries. Still, the commission’s work laid the foundation for modern governance, proving that even a small team of dedicated shibes could make a big impact.(https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/message-the-congress-transmitting-reports-the-commission-economy-and-efficiency)

1911 DOGE vs. 2025 DOGE: Same Vibe, New Tricks

Fast forward to 2025, and our modern DOGE, led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, is channeling that 1911 energy. Both are about cutting waste, modernizing tech, and making government serve the people better. The 1911 crew showcased typewriters; today’s DOGE is all about AI and software upgrades. The 1911 DOGE fought for a federal budget; 2025 DOGE is slashing regulations and contracts to save billions. Both are bold, both are scrappy, and both are about getting results.(https://ballotpedia.org/Department_of_Government_Efficiency)[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Department_of_Government_Efficiency)

But there’s a twist: while 1911 DOGE worked with Congress and focused on long-term systems, 2025 DOGE is a temporary outfit (set to expire July 4, 2026) with a more aggressive, executive-driven approach. Some critics say today’s DOGE is too ideological, cutting too fast and loose, while others see it as the shibe we need to shake things up. Either way, the 1911 commission shows us that the quest for efficiency is a timeless meme

(https://ballotpedia.org/Department_of_Government_Efficiency)[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Department_of_Government_Efficiency)

Such History, Much Inspiration

The 1911 Commission on Economy and Efficiency wasn’t just a moment—it was a movement. It showed that government could be nimble, smart, and focused on serving the people. For us at @DogeGeorgia, it’s a reminder that whether it’s 1911 or 2025, the fight for a leaner, meaner government is worth barking about. So let’s keep the meme alive, frens—tip some DOGE to efficiency, and let’s make government work for *us*!

*Sources: The American Presidency Project, Wikipedia, Tax Project Institute*

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