Democratic Colorado Governor Jared Polis is a strong advocate for making government more efficient, but he believes the current approach taken by the federal government is not the most effective way to achieve this goal. During POLITICO’s Governors Summit, Polis expressed his concerns about the Trump administration’s efforts to target waste in federal agencies.
While Polis acknowledged some common ground with the administration’s focus on efficiency, he suggested that a better approach would be to implement zero-based budgeting. This method involves starting from scratch and reevaluating the necessity and efficiency of every agency’s operations, rather than simply cutting funding without a clear plan for improvement.
As the chair of the National Governors Association, Polis has been actively working to streamline government processes in Colorado. He has repealed over 200 outdated state executive orders and is committed to removing unnecessary rules and regulations. Polis emphasized the importance of federal efforts to simplify compliance requirements, as this would allow states to reduce the resources dedicated to meeting federal mandates.
In addition to his views on government efficiency, Polis also shared his concerns about the Trump administration’s approach to tariffs, which he believes could have negative effects on prices, inflation, and job growth. Despite his outspoken nature, especially on social media, Polis clarified that while he supports Trump’s HHS pick Robert F. Kennedy Jr., he does not agree with all of Kennedy’s beliefs, particularly on vaccines.
Looking ahead, Polis remains focused on his current role as governor and has not made any definitive plans for the future. While speculation about a potential presidential bid has circulated, Polis reiterated that he is committed to serving Colorado and has not actively considered running for president.
Overall, Governor Jared Polis is dedicated to improving government efficiency at both the state and federal levels, and he continues to advocate for thoughtful and strategic approaches to governance.
