Opinion: The Trump administration is burying science and health care in paperwork
This White House has become the paperwork administration, write Brandon Marshall and Abdullah Shihipar.
The Trump administration's approach to government administration appears to be focused on generating more paperwork rather than streamlining processes, according to an opinion piece. In 2023, federal agencies alone estimated that 10.5 million hours were spent filling out paperwork, a phenomenon known as the "time tax" by journalist Annie Lowrey.
This wasted time takes away from productive work and leisure activities and can discourage people from accessing benefits they are entitled to. The government estimates that approximately $140 billion in benefits go unclaimed annually due to this time tax. This situation existed prior to the Trump administration, but it's likely to have worsened under the current leadership.
Despite a stated emphasis on "finding efficiencies," the administration has significantly increased the bureaucracy that Americans - from scientists seeking grants to Medicaid beneficiaries - must navigate, particularly at the Department of Health and Human Services. This bureaucratic burden is expected to have a significant impact on America's healthcare system and biomedical research industry.
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