Janeese Lewis George wants "desk audit" to make D.C. government more efficient

The big picture: After 12 years of the Bowser administration, Lewis George wants a "forensic analysis" of the city's budget.

• Her team has discussed conducting a "desk audit in certain agencies, to go desk-by-desk and see, 'What is your job? What do you do?'"
• Finding savings and cutting red tape could help her pay for and deliver on ambitious campaign promises, like a child care expansion.
• She fleshed out her thinking on the cost-cutting measures Wednesday, after unveiling a jobs portal to build a "People's Government."
• Details of the potential audits are TBD.

Friction point: Labor unions propelled Lewis George into office, so she may have to walk a fine line when it comes to cutting public jobs.

Zoom out: Mamdani's Commission on Government Efficiency (COGE) has sought to streamline approvals for things like outdoor dining and bus lanes, the NY Times reports.

• Lewis George also wants to speed up D.C.'s permitting process, bemoaning Wednesday that some businesses are "waiting for permits for seven months."
• Faster permitting could also help advance her proposal to build 72,000 new homes.