In solidarity with @Aloha Hoosier.
My experience is with the DoD and some with State (Security Cooperation Offices in Embassies - usually staffed with mostly DoD, but some State as well). You'd be hard pressed to find civilians more serious, hardworking and competent in any organization. This why it actually irritates me greatly when people who don't even know a government worker has the attitude that they're all worthless and what they do is worthless. Those people have multiplied in the past few months. Frankly, they're ignorant.
Aloha, rightly or wrongly, would bet the great majority of Americans think private enterprise with an eye to maximizing profits is far more efficient than government.
In addition, government workers are seen as being lazy and incompetent.
As a consequence, any politician waging a campaign to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse from government will get only cheers of gratitude from voters.
On this subject, the pol who in recent years, before DOGE, has to be the champion of anti waste, fraud, and abuse is Kentucky's U.S. Senator Rand Paul with his annual Festivus Award. Within the report my favorite example was a 12 million dollar grant for a pickleball court in Las Vegas. Residents of Vegas were quick to point out Kentucky gets far more assistance from the federal government than does Nevada.
One man's grant for a deserving cause, is another man's example of waste.