The White House is reaffirming its commitment to reducing government waste and increasing efficiency across federal agencies. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt recently addressed growing criticism of the administration’s budget-cutting efforts, which are being led in part by the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

The initiative, advised by entrepreneur Elon Musk and his team, aims to streamline federal operations and identify areas of overspending. Leavitt

responded to concerns by highlighting how previous presidents, including Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, also called for spending cuts and more efficient government operations.

“Calls for cutting wasteful spending are not new,” Leavitt said. “This is about smart management, not politics. We’ve seen past administrations—from both parties—support reforms that make government more accountable and effective.” Read more below