The federal government’s workforce has remained largely unchanged in size for over 50 years, even as the U.S. population has grown by 68% and federal spending has quintupled, highlighting the critical role of technology and contractors in filling the gap.
Contractors now outnumber federal employees more than two to one, creating a “blended workforce” that raises pressing questions about accountability, efficiency, and the boundaries of “inherently governmental” functions.
Effective government reform must align strategies with missions, whether through privatization, government by network, reinvented bureaucracies, or government by market to address modern challenges while maintaining public accountability.