Reagan's Personnel Chief Advises Trump Administration on Bureaucracy Reform

Donald J. Devine, who served as the Office of Personnel Management director under President Ronald Reagan, has become an influential advisor to the current Trump administration on government downsizing initiatives. At 87, Devine has found renewed interest in his expertise on reducing the size of federal bureaucracy, particularly as President Trump continues efforts to streamline government operations through initiatives like the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

During his tenure in the Reagan administration, Devine implemented significant reductions in the federal workforce, cutting over 100,000 non-defense positions and reportedly saving approximately $6 billion through changes to federal employee compensation structures. Devine played a notable role in the 1981 air traffic controllers' strike, where he managed media communications following President Reagan's decision to terminate striking federal employees who had violated their employment agreements prohibiting strikes.

Devine's 1991 book documenting his government reform efforts was republished in 2017 with a focus on bureaucratic management. The updated publication reportedly became influential within Trump administration personnel circles, particularly after staffing changes in the White House personnel office during Trump's first term. Devine has expressed that effective government reform requires determined leadership willing to implement potentially unpopular changes.

While noting differences between Presidents Reagan and Trump, Devine has identified similarities in their approaches to government reform and willingness to challenge established systems. Devine has emphasized the importance of filling senior executive service positions with appropriate appointees, stating that approximately 1,000 of these high-level bureaucratic positions can be political appointments, though these slots are rarely completely filled during Republican administrations.

The former OPM director has maintained that small, determined groups can implement significant changes in government operations when led by decisive leadership. Devine continues to serve as a senior scholar at The Fund for American Studies in Washington, D.C., where he contributes to discussions on government reform and conservative political philosophy.