Cutting the Fat: Why Bureaucratic Weight Loss Needs More Than an Ozempic Fix

By: Mike “Woody” Woodhouse

Let's get real: the DoD's bureaucracy isn't just bloated—it's in desperate need of a lifestyle change. But here's the kicker: tackling this problem isn't like popping a magic diet pill or trying the latest exercise fad. We don't need a quick fix. We need a systematic, strategic approach that actually gets results. Think of it as a long-term health plan for an institution that's been gorging on unnecessary layers, redundant processes, and outdated rules for far too long.

For two decades, I've lived and breathed this world. As a professional military officer, I've seen it from all angles—whether I was the tactical warfighter on the front lines, the tester evaluating the latest innovations, the leader responsible for driving progress, or stuck in the frozen middle of the staff process, watching time tick away while real problems went unsolved. These vantage points have shaped how I view the DoD's issues and led me to this blog.

The DoD's Ozempic Moment?

Much like the craze around weight-loss drugs like Ozempic, there's an idea floating around that we can fix our bureaucratic problems with one big, sweeping change. Just slash some positions, trim a few programs, and problem solved. If only it were that easy. Anyone who's ever tried one of those overnight fixes knows that the weight comes back just as fast. Why? Because you didn't address the underlying habits that got you there in the first place.

For the DoD, that means we've got to stop thinking we can "hack" our way out of this bureaucratic mess with superficial solutions. Cutting the fat has to go deeper than eliminating a few redundant roles. It's about changing the way we think about governance, innovation, and collaboration.

Identifying the Flab: Where Are We Really Stuck? 

Before we dive into how to burn off the excess, let's pinpoint where the real flab lies. In the fitness world, you don't start by running a marathon—you start by figuring out where you're weakest. The same goes for the DoD.

 1. Overlapping Roles It's no secret that the joint staff has a redundancy problem. In many cases, multiple offices are doing variations of the same job, choking the decision-making process with unnecessary layers of review. If you were in a gym, you'd call this overtraining, doing the same exercise over and over without getting results.

2. Death by Committee Every decision requires a committee, every committee requires a meeting, and every meeting requires more time and resources. It's like running on a treadmill while holding a stack of paperwork—you're moving, but not getting anywhere. It's the classic sign of inefficient governance.

3. Need-to-Know Paralysis As I mentioned before, the over-classification problem creates a lack of transparency that paralyzes progress. Imagine trying to run a relay race, but each runner can't see the baton until it's in their hand. By the time they figure out what to do with it, the race is lost.

A Real Workout Plan: Cutting the Fat, One Step at a Time

It's time for a different approach. This isn't about trimming the edges; it's about fundamentally reshaping how we operate. So, how do we systematically cut the bureaucratic fat? Let's break it down with a workout plan that actually works:

1. Interval Training: Shorten Decision Cycles

Just like high-intensity interval training (HIIT), we need to make decision cycles faster and more effective. Instead of spending months (or even years) in committee deliberations, we should empower smaller, cross-functional teams to make decisions in real time. Think of it as shifting from marathon meetings to quick sprints: focused, intense, and with immediate results.

2. Simplify the Diet: Lean Out Over-Classification

To reduce unnecessary fat, you don't need to starve yourself—you just need a cleaner diet. In the DoD's case, that means simplifying classification levels. The "need-to-know" culture has to evolve into a "need-to-share" mentality, where transparency and collaboration are the norm, not the exception. It's like cutting out the junk food that's been clogging up the system.

3. Functional Fitness: Streamline Roles and Responsibilities

Functional fitness focuses on strengthening muscles that are actually useful in real-life situations. Similarly, we need to focus on roles and responsibilities that drive operational outcomes. Instead of a bloated chain of command with unnecessary checkpoints, we should streamline roles, cutting out duplicative positions and aligning responsibilities with the mission at hand. This is about making sure every "muscle" in the DoD contributes to the fight.

4. Continuous Improvement: Don't Rely on Quick Fixes

Much like the person who loses 10 pounds fast but gains it all back after they stop dieting, quick fixes in the DoD are temporary at best. We need to adopt a mindset of continuous improvement, evaluating processes regularly and cutting out inefficiencies as they arise. No more waiting for the next big reform package. This is a day-in, day-out commitment to cutting the fat.

5. Maximize Rest and Recovery: Prioritize Mission-Critical Operations

Just like your body needs recovery time to function at peak performance, the DoD needs to focus on its core mission and give leaders space to actually lead. We can't have warfighters bogged down in endless meetings, committee reviews, and administrative minutiae. Prioritize what truly matters and eliminate the bureaucratic noise that's sapping energy from mission-critical tasks.

The Long-Term Payoff: Lean, Mean, and Ready to Fight

  When you focus on cutting fat in a systematic, sustainable way, the long-term results are powerful. You end up with an organization that's leaner, faster, and more effective—one that can respond to threats in real time and doesn't get bogged down in the weight of its own processes.

 This isn't about finding the latest fad to fix the problem. It's about creating a healthy culture of governance where innovation and speed thrive, and where collaboration drives decision-making. The DoD doesn't need another diet pill; it needs a full-body transformation. And that starts today, one layer of fat at a time.

 The next time someone suggests a "quick fix" to solve our bureaucratic woes, remember: real results come from discipline, strategy, and a commitment to change. No more shortcuts. It's time to get serious about cutting the fat.