Opinion Today: Want a more efficient government? These states have a playbook.

California and New York are reforming how they make purchases.

View in browser|nytimes.com January 8, 2025 By Chris Conway Senior Staff Editor, Opinion Toilets seats, $14,000 each. Drinking cups, $1,280 each. Soap dish covers, $117 each. These purchases by the federal government over the years would be laughable if they weren't so outrageous. But, fair or not, they have come to symbolize waste in the procurement process the federal government uses to buy goods and services for its vast and diverse operations. Of course, it is a lot more complicated than that. The government also spends huge sums on highly complex technologies. One of every 10 dollars spent by the United States government goes to contractors and vendors. The system has long been criticized for being too prescriptive and ponderous. In most cases, the government tells bidders precisely what it wants, rather than asking them how they might best provide what the government is looking for or how to solve the problem the government wants to resolve. And it can take so long to complete the process that by the time the government gets the technology it has specified, it's already woefully behind the times. Fixing this process could save taxpayers a lot of money, especially at a time when the incoming Trump administration is talking about wholesale cuts across government that could eliminate thousands of jobs and reduce services. In a guest essay, Cara Eckholm writes about two states, California and New York, that are exploring new ways to procure the technology they need. She spent the past two years at Cornell Tech studying how to make New York City a global hub of urban innovation and writes that those two states "are showing how the government can do a better job of supporting new ideas and keeping pace with technology, in fields such as artificial intelligence and climate change." Read the full essay. Photo illustration by Philotheus Nisch for The New York Times Guest Essay How to Cross the Government's 'Valley of Death' and Fix How It Spends Billions on Stuff The system has been criticized for being too prescriptive and ponderous. Now states and local governments are finding new ways to make the process work. By Cara Eckholm Here's what we're focusing on today: Editors' Picks David French, Lydia Polgreen and Bret Stephens 'Trump Is at His Absolute Worst in a Crisis': Three Columnists Imagine the World Ahead What are the biggest challenges and opportunities facing Trump and his team in foreign policy and national security? By David French, Lydia Polgreen and Bret Stephens More From Opinion Bret Stephens The Biden Presidency: Four Illusions, Four Deceptions History will not remember his term of office fondly. By Bret Stephens Guest Essay Utah Wants the Supreme Court to Give It Land Owned by All Americans Millions of acres could face largely unregulated exploitation. By John D. Leshy Guest Essay Justin Trudeau Was His Own Worst Enemy Justin Trudeau came to power with a new kind of politics — progressive and identity-based. In the end, it proved his undoing. By Stephen Marche Guest Essay My Country Is in Grave Danger. These 1,105 Pages Prove It. There's a dagger hanging over Brazil. By Vanessa Barbara Biden Won't Point to a Key Culprit in the Sudanese Genocide Why are Biden and his aides reluctant to hold a crucial culprit accountable? By Nicholas Kristof For a Few Weeks, Bangkok Feels a Bit Like Venice There is engaging artwork throughout the city during the biennale. By David Belcher A Sluggish Start for Congestion Pricing It would be more effective if Ubers, taxis and trucks had to pay more. By Peter Coy Damon Winter/The New York Times letters Patti Davis's Reflections on Joe Biden and Her Dad, Ronald Reagan Readers discuss a guest essay about the aging of two presidents. Also: A peaceful Jan. 6; the Palestinians' future; mind-altering drugs. We hope you've enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times. Games Here are today's Mini Crossword, Wordle and Spelling Bee. If you're in the mood to play more, find all our games here. Forward this newsletter to friends to share ideas and perspectives that will help inform their lives. They can sign up here. Do you have feedback? Email us at opiniontoday@nytimes.com. If you have questions about your Times account, delivery problems or other issues, visit our Help Page or contact The Times. Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for the Opinion Today newsletter from The New York Times. To stop receiving Opinion Today, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018