The idea that private-sector skills can improve government efficiency is a misconception. This notion gained traction in 1962 when President John F. Kennedy appointed Robert McNamara as his secretary of defense, bringing with him the experience of running Ford Motor Co. However, historian David Halberstam’s book “The Best and the Brightest” exposed the limitations of this approach. It showed that private-sector skills cannot replace the complexities and nuances required in government. Despite efforts to trim budgets and cut spending, similar models have resurfaced with new business leaders like Elon Musk aiming to inject efficiency into the US government.
Source: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-03-14/doge-overestimates-the-value-of-business-skills-in-government