Welcome to Critical Take-Aways, a new ASPA series designed to help practitioners, scholars and students stay informed and engaged on the most important issues for our profession. Each edition offers insights into a recent ASPA e-learning program: what it covered, why it matters and how it relates to the public service community. Whether you're familiar with the topic or looking to learn more, Critical Take-Aways offers a quick starting point and a link to the full webinar on ASPA's Vimeo page.
Key Points
Federal power has shifted to one-way executive control, with fewer resources for states and cities.
Programs and local authority are shrinking, and checks and balances are weaker.
Local leaders still have tools that make a difference. They should focus on mission, coalitions, communication, and planning.
"Don't just throw out statistics. Tell stories people can relate to—'brown water in your taps' is more powerful than 'cities and towns maintain eight million miles of pipe.'"
—Geoff Beckwith
Key Points
Performance auditing asks whether government programs actually work and serve people fairly.
Audits do more than identify problems. They help provide the facts to address them.
Taking steps to make audits visible to the public—in ways they can actually see them—is key.
Independence is essential for auditors to drive meaningful change and maintain trust.
Real-world impact comes from engaging the public and holding agencies accountable over time.
"I was stunned at the power that performance auditing had to do good—to make things better in government,"
—Mark Funkhouser
Key Points
Project 2025 is already reshaping federal structure and staffing.
Speed and coordination drive its early impact.
Civil service protections are being weakened.
Executive power is increasingly centralized.
The challenge ahead is how government rebuilds.
"If no one can tell the emperor he has no clothes, we are dismantling the basic foundations of our country."
—Mara Rudman