As the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) moves ahead with efforts to shrink US federal agencies, access massive amounts of data, and replace core functions with automated systems, the Trump administration is rushing headlong into an AI-first agenda that more closely mirrors a Silicon Valley startup than effective government. For instance, in its haste to centralize information to look for potential cuts to the federal workforce and services, the General Services Administration (GSA) accelerated the rollout of a new AI chatbot that has raised concerns about the government’s use of the technology. The government should focus on AI applications that help public servants quickly process, extract, and summarize vast amounts of data to expedite their work.