Former aides to President Barack Obama recently made revealing comments on an episode of 'Pod Save America,' acknowledging that they should have implemented some of the strategies that President Donald Trump has employed through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
During the discussion about DOGE's efforts to reduce federal spending, the 'Obama bros' expressed regret over their past actions. Jon Lovett, a former Obama speechwriter, admitted to being unaware that the executive branch had the authority to make significant cuts to federal spending, as seen in the Trump administration's approach.
Lovett remarked, 'Honestly, some of this is pretty annoying because it’s some of the stuff we should’ve done. We didn’t know you could do some of this.'
Jon Favreau, another former Obama speechwriter, echoed Lovett's sentiments, acknowledging that while the Obama administration had attempted to streamline bureaucracy and enhance government efficiency, it proved to be a challenging task.
'We all know that government is slow. We all know government can be inefficient. We all know that the bureaucracy can be bloated. We all worked in the White House. We tried to reorganize the government. We tried to find efficiency. It's hard to do,' Favreau stated.
The podcasters also criticized the outdated technology within the federal government during the Obama era, highlighting issues such as poor connectivity and inadequate services.
'The technology in the federal government, at least when we were there, sucked. There was no service in the basement of the West Wing. You couldn't use your phone because there was no service,' Favreau added.
The episode was released prior to Trump signing an executive order directing agencies to collaborate with DOGE to downsize the federal government. This executive order is part of a series of recent government cutbacks that have targeted various areas, including DEI funding and migrant hotel expenses.
The 'Obama Bros' have been actively engaging with the media, offering guidance to Democrats on navigating Trump's second term. Former Obama spokesman and 'Pod Save America' co-host, Tommy Vietor, participated in a discussion on 'Jesse Watters Primetime' last month to discuss the future of the Democratic Party.
