[trilobyte]

That's a very valid argument. Both SpaceX and Tesla are quite capital efficient. Maybe another angle to consider is what's being optimized for? What outcomes would be considered successful for these federal agencies? That's probably going to tell us more about whether the austerity measures that seem likely result in more efficient use of resources to create successful outcomes.

One thing that seems worth think through more is whether the stated outcomes of those agencies is what's actually be optimized for, or whether those are suborned for personal gain by a few parties.

[zombiwoof]

He is capital efficient because of foreign workers

[ggreer]

This is not correct. SpaceX is covered by ITAR and therefore cannot hire foreigners.

Of the approximately 70,000 Tesla employees in the US, fewer than 2,000 are H-1B workers. The rest are US citizens or permanent residents. Tesla's manufacturing is much more vertically integrated than other auto manufacturers, so they rely almost entirely on their US factories to produce the cars they sell in the US. Other auto makers tend to do more manufacturing overseas to save on labor/safety/environmental costs, then do final assembly in the US to avoid tariffs.

[delabay]

Private enterprises are optimized for survival and fitness.

Bureaucratic agencies are optimized for more bureaucracy.

[exe34]

> Private enterprises are optimized for survival and fitness.

usually at the cost of the workers, environment, etc.

> Bureaucratic agencies are optimized for more bureaucracy

they are designed for continuity because people die when they suddenly stop functioning.