Government for a new era: Where do we go after the trauma of Trump?

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The Framers of the Constitution understood a timeless truth about democracy: Public power must serve the public good, not the interests of those temporarily holding office. This principle runs throughout the Federalist Papers, especially in James Madison’s warnings about the abuse of concentrated power and how it can lead to tyranny.

As the U.S. approaches its 250th anniversary on July 4, it is a good time to reflect on the extraordinary durability of our constitutional democracy and the many accomplishments of our country and government. The American experiment has endured wars, depressions and constitutional crises. Our federal government has sent astronauts to the moon, rebuilt war-ravaged continents, eradicated diseases and created the conditions for the most sustained period of democratic prosperity in history.

But anniversaries should not only celebrate the past. They should also lead us to reflect on the current moment and look ahead to what we want for our future.

The current moment would have appalled our Founding Fathers. President Trump relentlessly treats our public institutions not as instruments of constitutional democracy, but as extensions of his personal and political power, as well as his own self-enrichment and aggrandizement. In the process, he has degraded the government and the services it provides, politicized the nonpartisan, merit-based civil service and undermined the rule of law.

The consequences are immediate and long-term. Food safety inspectors are fewer, the IRS is slower in meeting taxpayer needs, disaster response has been weakened and public health has been placed in jeopardy. Scientists, diplomats, lawyers and senior executives, collectively with millions of years of irreplaceable knowledge, have been pushed out or driven away.

The integrity, reliability and trustworthiness of our institutions have been placed in jeopardy and cannot easily be reconstituted.

As we live through the current tumultuous period, it is important to look ahead to a time when we can repair the damage caused by the Trump presidency and build a consensus to improve the functioning of our government to better deal with the problems we face as a nation. This is not a partisan aspiration: Effective government is foundational to our national strength, economic competitiveness and our democratic legitimacy.

The beginnings of that consensus already exist, according to forthcoming research my organization, the Partnership for Public Service, will publish later this summer. Three basic themes emerged. First, the public wants a government that understands their needs and works for them with their best interests in mind. Second, they hope for a government that is not influenced by money, corporations, the wealthy or a desire of elected officials to stay in power. Finally, they want a government that can solve our biggest problems such as health care, education and the environment while providing critical social services and dealing with emerging technology issues.

Recovering from the damage of the Trump era cannot simply mean restoring the status quo, but will require rebuilding a government that works better, delivers results and earns back the confidence and trust of the American people that has been eroding for decades.

This starts with leadership. We need leaders in both the executive and legislative branches who are committed to the public good and public service rather than private interests or personal power. Those leaders must also bring the skills, experience, judgment and character necessary to govern effectively. Competence matters. Integrity matters. And a relentless focus on better outcomes for the public must matter most of all.

At the same time, the government must become far more centered on the people it serves. Too often, process has become the goal rather than the outcomes. Rules and procedures are important, but they should help government deliver results for citizens — not stand in the way of solving problems.

We also need a more holistic approach to governance. The challenges Americans face do not divide neatly among federal agencies or between federal, state, and local governments. This requires coordination across levels of government and across institutional silos.

And we must equip government with the best tools available. This includes responsibly deploying modern technologies such as artificial intelligence to improve services, increase efficiency and strengthen accountability.

The Framers gave us the basic principles, not a static operating manual. Their genius was not in imagining every future problem, but in creating a system capable of renewal.

The challenge now is to ensure that our government remains worthy of the constitutional vision the Founders entrusted to us — to be effective, responsive and accountable, to preserve the public trust and to be prepared to adapt to changing times.

Max Stier is the founding president and CEO of the nonpartisan, nonprofit Partnership for Public Service, an organization focused on building a better government and a stronger democracy.

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James Madison

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