As a sitting governor (at least for another month) and a fellow engineer, I can assure Elon Musk and his team that the mission of the Department of Government Efficiency or DOGE is achievable.

But Musk must first recognize that Washington is a graveyard of failed attempts to streamline government. Don't look for solutions there. Instead, look to the states.

Although it has received widespread criticism from those with little executive experience in government, DOGE's goals are entirely attainable. This election has created a rare opportunity to leverage public support and political momentum to restore fiscal discipline in America.

All Americans, whether they supported President-elect Donald Trump or not, know that government has grown too large and spending too unchecked, and that all taxpayers are paying the price. The challenge is not in identifying the problem — that’s the easy part — but in enacting the tough changes where both parties have repeatedly ignored fiscal responsibility.

Isaac Newton’s First Law applies to Washington: “An object at rest stays at rest unless acted upon by an external force.” Our Constitution reminds us that that force in government is federalism — a principle that has driven America's success for more than 200 years. The Founding Fathers were wise to place power with the states, where policies can be executed efficiently. And states across the map (yes, even California) have........

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