Japan’s government says it has launched an initiative to review subsidies and tax breaks in a bid to cut wasteful government spending.
An office to review projects that may be less efficient in achieving policy goals was set up in the Cabinet Secretariat on Tuesday. It will start by evaluating those to be included in the fiscal 2026 budget.
The office is widely seen as a Japanese version of the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, created by US President Donald Trump to cut government spending.
However, Japanese Finance Minister Katayama Satsuki, who will oversee the review, stressed that it differs from DOGE in that it is not aimed at overhauling government organizations.
At a news conference on Tuesday, she said, “As Prime Minister Takaichi often says, in order to maintain the sustainability of Japan’s finances, it is very important to show the public how we are constantly working on these things at the country’s political and administrative centers.”
Katayama said people are very interested in seeing projects reviewed and waste eliminated. She said she will consider seeking feedback via social media.