In a more perfect union, the federal government would be a lean machine—focused on national defense, administering justice, and protecting individual rights. But as we all know, that’s not the government we’ve got today. With over 3 million federal employees scattered across an alphabet soup of agencies, the U.S. government has turned into a bloated bureaucracy that thinks it can do everything and yet does very little well. From healthcare and education to environmental regulation and social services, the federal government has wormed its way into nearly every facet of American life.
This was not the vision of the Founding Fathers. Men like Jefferson and Madison envisioned a limited government, focused on only the most essential functions—national defense, law enforcement, and diplomacy—leaving the rest to the states, communities, and individuals. The government’s reach was supposed to be small and effective, not big and out-of-control. Today, we have the opposite—a gargantuan bureaucracy that gets more bloated every year, while citizens foot the bill.
The question, then, is this: how do we get back to that vision? The answer is simpler than you might think: AI automation. But here’s the catch: the federal government should not be in the AI business. Instead, it should be a consumer of AI—buying the technology from the private sector, not building it itself. This is the free-market solution that brings us closer to a leaner, constitutional government, one that is efficient, focused, and stays within the bounds of its original intent.
The Founders’ Vision: A Government That Stays in Its Lane
When the Founders laid out the Constitution, they weren’t thinking about Medicare for All, public education, or regulating the temperature of your thermostat. They were thinking about national defense, law enforcement, and international diplomacy. The idea was that government would do a few important things, and do them well, but wouldn’t meddle in the lives of citizens unless absolutely necessary.
In the Federalist Papers, James Madison emphasized that a government must be limited to its proper scope—a scope that was clearly defined in the Constitution. He warned against the perils of a government that tried to do everything, stating, “The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, selfappointed, or elective, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny.”
The government that Madison and his contemporaries envisioned was limited, efficient, and focused on its most critical duties. This did not include healthcare, social welfare, or environmental regulation. These are the kinds of tasks better left to the states, local governments, and, most importantly, the private sector.
The Constitution itself reflects this vision by listing specific powers given to the federal government, and leaving everything else to the states or the people. The Founders knew that a large, centralized federal government was not only inefficient but also a threat to individual liberty. Therefore, they designed a system where the federal government was small, and where most decisions were made at the local level.
Fast forward to today, and the federal government is involved in practically everything. Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Education, Labor, Transportation, Environmental Protection, you name it—the government has its hands in it. And yet, at the same time, it’s bloating like a whale on a diet of taxpayer dollars—less efficient, more wasteful, and still demanding bigger trousers.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. We can shrink the leviathan without trimming essential services. Enter AI automation—a little bit of technological liposuction to trim away the flab, streamline the processes, and let the government return to a leaner, more focused version of itself.
Outsourcing AI Automation: Why the Government Shouldn’t Be Building Its Own Tech
AI and automation are tools that could dramatically reduce the size of the federal workforce and improve efficiency across the board. But there’s a key difference between using AI to streamline government services and the government building and managing AI systems. The latter is a surefire recipe for disaster.
Here’s the thing: the federal government should not be in the business of developing technology. That’s what the private sector does. And guess what? The private sector does it better. Government-run tech projects are known for their cost overruns, delays, and bloated budgets. Take a look at any government IT project in the last 30 years, and you’ll see a long history of failures. The Affordable Care Act website debacle, the F-35 boondoggle, and the Veterans Affairs healthcare mess—each a shining example of government-run programs that couldn’t hit water if they fell out of a boat, let alone deliver on their promises of efficiency and effectiveness.
The private sector, on the other hand, is driven by competition. Companies are incentivized to innovate, deliver high-quality products, and do so at the best possible price. This kind of market-driven efficiency is something that government-run tech programs can’t replicate. And that’s where outsourcing AI becomes so important. Instead of trying to build AI internally, the government should simply be a consumer of AI technologies, purchasing solutions from private companies who have the incentive to innovate and deliver results at the best price. That’s the market-driven solution that doesn’t require the government to expand its footprint in ways the Founders would have rejected.
By outsourcing AI automation, the government could save billions—without getting mired in the usual bureaucratic quicksand. No need for an army of AI engineers, data scientists, and software developers on the public payroll. Let the private sector do the heavy lifting, while the government reclaims its rightful place as a lean, mean, rights-protecting machine. Instead, the government can just buy the AI solutions it needs from the private sector—those savvy tech firms that actually know how to build and run these systems without burning through billions of taxpayer dollars.
How AI Could Trim the Fat in Key Areas
Now, let’s talk about where AI can actually make a difference. Think about all the redundant, repetitive tasks that flood federal agencies. We’ve got tens of thousands of employees just handling paperwork, sorting data, and answering the same questions over and over. All of this can be automated. So, let’s look at some estimates.
- Administrative Support (15-20%)
- Jobs: Data entry, scheduling, processing forms, handling correspondence.
- AI Potential: High. These tasks are repetitive and rule-based, making them ideal for automation with Robotic Process Automation (RPA).
- Employees Affected: 450,000 to 600,000
- Annual Savings: $15.75 billion to $21 billion
- Imagine no longer needing hundreds of thousands of government workers doing paperwork that a machine can do faster, more accurately, and without lunch breaks. The savings here are substantial, and we haven’t even begun to scratch the surface.
- Data Processing and Analysis (10-15%)
- Jobs: Data analysis, financial auditing, policy research, etc.
- AI Potential: High. AI can process and analyze vast quantities of data far quicker than any human team.
- Employees Affected: 300,000 to 450,000
- Annual Savings: $13.5 billion to $20.25 billion
- If AI can sift through millions of data points in seconds, why do we need so many federal employees doing manual data crunching? AI is faster and more accurate, meaning fewer people doing more complex, higher-value work.
- Customer Service (10-15%)
- Jobs: Answering routine questions, processing applications (think Social Security, IRS, Veterans Affairs).
- AI Potential: High. AI-driven chatbots and virtual assistants can handle most of these tasks.
- Employees Affected: 300,000 to 450,000
- Annual Savings: $6.75 billion to $10.125 billion
- There’s no reason the government needs millions of customer service workers for tasks that AI can handle with precision and speed. Whether it’s processing forms or answering the same questions day in and day out, AI can do it all.
- IT and Cybersecurity (10-15%)
- Jobs: Network monitoring, threat detection, system maintenance.
- AI Potential: High. AI is already playing a crucial role in automating cybersecurity tasks.
- Employees Affected: 300,000 to 450,000
- Annual Savings: $16.2 billion to $24.3 billion
- The government needs strong cybersecurity, but that doesn’t mean it should be managing every aspect of it. Let the private sector create AI solutions for detecting and neutralizing threats—without needing a huge workforce to do it.
The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) and Its Role
The U.S. Postal Service, with its some 600,000 employees, is another area that could benefit from AI automation. By outsourcing the development of AI-powered mail sorting, customer service, and logistics, the USPS could dramatically reduce its workforce—potentially saving another $13.5 billion to $15 billion annually.
Total Annual Savings Estimate
By outsourcing AI automation, the total potential savings for the federal government—across all departments, including the USPS—could reach:
- Low Estimate: $83.25 billion annually
- High Estimate: $139.8 billion annually
Monetary Savings Are Not the Only Benefit
While cost savings are the most immediately obvious benefit of outsourcing AI, they are far from the only advantage. The broader impact of adopting AI automation in government is just as significant—and arguably more important for preserving the foundational principles of the American republic.
- Restoring Limited Government
The Founders believed in limited government because they understood that excessive power in the hands of a centralized bureaucracy could undermine individual liberties. Outsourcing AI to the private sector reduces the federal government’s role in tech development, preventing it from becoming a behemoth managing ever-expanding sectors. This approach puts the focus back on the private sector—where innovation thrives—while maintaining a government that sticks to its core constitutional functions. - Increased Innovation and Competition
Private companies that create AI solutions are subject to market competition. This drives innovation, encourages improvements in technology, and leads to more cost-effective solutions. In contrast, government-run tech initiatives, unburdened by competition, tend to stagnate. In the private sector, companies innovate to stay competitive, which means the government benefits from the best, most cutting-edge solutions. - Enhanced Accountability and Transparency
Full transparency is key to a government that is both effective and accountable to the people it serves. When AI solutions are developed by the private sector, there is a built-in mechanism of accountability. Companies are held accountable by shareholders and consumers. The government, on the other hand, is less accountable, especially when managing its own tech programs. Outsourcing these capabilities ensures that private sector companies are driven to deliver high-quality products and services that meet the demands of government at the best possible cost.
But beyond accountability, transparency ensures that all processes, from development to implementation, are clearly communicated to the public. AI automation can provide real-time reporting, performance metrics, and open data access, ensuring that taxpayers can see exactly how their money is being spent and how effective the systems are. This level of transparency is often lacking in government-run operations, but AI can bring clarity and openness to the process, reinforcing the trust between government and citizens. - Empowering the Public Sector’s Core Functions
AI automation frees up resources, allowing the federal government to focus on its core responsibilities: national defense, law enforcement, and ensuring justice. With the efficiency gained through AI, the government can refocus on protecting individual rights and ensuring that the essential functions of government are more effective and responsive to the needs of citizens.
Conclusion: A Leaner, Constitutional Government Through AI Outsourcing
The key to creating a leaner, constitutional government lies in using AI to streamline government functions—but not by having the government build the technology. Instead, the government should focus on its core functions, purchasing AI solutions from the private sector. This is the free-market approach that ensures innovation, accountability, and efficiency, while reducing the government’s size and scope.
By shifting away from government-run tech projects and embracing the private sector as the engine of innovation, we can return to the Founders’ vision of a lean, effective government—focused on national defense, justice, and diplomacy, and leaving the rest to the ingenuity of the American people. The result will be a government that is smaller, more efficient, and more in line with the Constitution. Monetary savings are just the beginning—the true benefit is restoring a constitutional government that operates with the efficiency, transparency, and innovation demanded by We The People.
