Eli Groner, who served as Director General of the Prime Minister’s Office under Benjamin Netanyahu, first encountered government waste in his very first cabinet meeting. 

The top Israeli financial media outlet, Globes, interview Eli Groner who told them that his attempts to curb unnecessary spending angered quite a few people. 

Now, he believes that an organization similar to the newly established U.S. Government Efficiency Department (DOGE) is needed in Israel, and he has concrete ideas on where to start. "How is it possible that Israel is at war, yet the government is funding a contest for 'the most beautiful mikveh'?" he asks. 

According to the official website of the U.S. Government Efficiency Department (DOGE), the federal government has saved $55 billion since Donald Trump entered the White House in January 2025. Led by Elon Musk, the department has carried out significant budget cuts, identifying unnecessary—and sometimes absurd—expenditures across multiple agencies. However, their actions have sparked controversy, raising questions about their authority and the necessity of the cuts.  

Eli Groner believes that Israel should implement a similar initiative. As the former Director General of the Prime Minister’s Office (2015-2018), one of the most critical roles in Israel’s government, he was involved in nearly every major policy decision and served as Netanyahu’s direct liaison with all government ministries.  

For the past six years, Groner has been deeply embedded in Israel’s high-tech sector. Until recently, he led Israeli investments for the U.S.-based Koch Industries while also serving on several Israeli corporate boards. 

In an interview with Globes, Groner assesses whether Israel is ready for a similar efficiency drive, shares insights on how he supervised government spending during his tenure—angering many officials in the process—and reflects on wasteful expenditures he was unable to stop. "Why do we even need a competition for 'the most beautiful mikveh in Israel'?" he asks.  

Is implementing a DOGE-Like model in Israel even realistic?  

"Look, we need to bring this concept to Israel, but is it realistic? That’s another question entirely," Groner says. "Israel has a different culture and reality. The key point to understand is that DOGE isn’t just about cutting government spending—it’s about government efficiency. And that’s something we can implement. 

When dealing with public funds, there will always—without exception—be more waste than in the private sector or business world. So yes, we should eliminate waste wherever possible, but the ultimate goal should be to make the government a well-oiled, efficient, and service-oriented machine."