Budget Efficiency Increases Transparency and Digitalization of Public Services
By: Dhita Karuniawati
President Prabowo Subianto’s government continues to encourage budget efficiency to increase transparency and effectiveness of digitalization of public services. President Prabowo Subianto instructed the government’s budget efficiency of IDR306.69 trillion in the 2025 State Budget and Regional Budget in order to maintain fiscal stability and support more optimal public services. The budget efficiency target is stated in Presidential Instruction (Inpres) Number 1 of 2025 concerning Spending Efficiency in the Implementation of the State Budget (APBN) and Regional Budget (APBD) for the 2025 Fiscal Year.
The main points of the Inpres’ directive are the determination of a budget efficiency target of IDR306.69 trillion, consisting of IDR256.1 trillion from the ministry/institution budget, IDR50.59 trillion from transfers to the regions. A number of state officials, starting from the Red and White Cabinet ministers, the TNI Commander, the Chief of Police, the Attorney General, to governors, regents, and mayors are directed to implement budget efficiency measures in various sectors.
Following up on Presidential Instruction (Inpres) Number 1 of 2025 concerning Spending Efficiency in the Implementation of the APBN and APBD, the Head of the State Civil Service Agency (BKN), Prof. Zudan Arif Fakrulloh formulated 10 instructions for the State Civil Apparatus (ASN). This instruction aims to create a work system that is more adaptive, efficient, and responsive to the needs of the community.
Zudan said that budget efficiency is not a barrier, but rather an opportunity to improve the quality of public services. To address budget efficiency according to President Subianto’s instructions, a more adaptive work scheme is needed so that tasks and work can be carried out effectively and efficiently.
With the right approach, budget efficiency can be a momentum for ASN to implement a more flexible and effective work pattern. This is in line with the government’s efforts to create a bureaucracy that is transparent, efficient, and has a direct impact on the community.
As a concrete step in supporting the budget efficiency policy, BKN has implemented 10 main instructions, namely: Elimination of flexible working hours to improve work discipline and effectiveness; Combined work scheme, namely Work From Anywhere (WFA) for two days and work in the office for three days per week; A more concrete and measurable daily performance reporting system to improve accountability; Restrictions on official travel, both domestically and abroad, to reduce non-urgent expenses; Optimization of online coordination as an alternative to physical meetings to save operational costs; Efficient use of energy, including electricity and other resources in the work environment; Adjustment of work clothes, emphasizing comfort without ignoring professionalism; More effective use of the budget, ensuring that every expense has a real impact; Optimization of cooperation with partners and third parties without sacrificing the principles of good governance; and Increasing the effectiveness of personnel consultations in regional offices to be faster and more efficient.
Zudan also explained that this policy will have an impact on improving the quality of ASN management. Budget efficiency is not only about cutting costs, but also an opportunity to simplify bureaucratic processes, accelerate the resolution of legal and ASN welfare problems and facilitate career development and education for civil servants.
With the right approach, ASN is expected to be able to face this challenge with a positive and innovative attitude, so that public services continue to run optimally even in conditions of budget efficiency.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Communication and Digital (Menkomdigi) Meutya Hafid said that the budget efficiency mandated in Presidential Instruction Number 1 of 2025 is an opportunity to strengthen digital transformation in Indonesia in a more efficient and innovative way. This Presidential Instruction is a momentum to prove that program effectiveness is much more important than just paying attention to the amount of the budget.
As a real step, the Ministry of Communication and Digital will re-prioritize programs and budgets to ensure that programs that directly touch the public interest continue to run optimally.
Meutya Hafid said that budget efficiency is not just about cutting spending, but rather an effort to find new partnership patterns, optimize cooperation, and increase the effectiveness of program implementation. One of the special concerns in this efficiency is the reduction in the office stationery (ATK) budget by up to 90%. The party will further examine whether it has a significant impact or is an opportunity for further efficiency.
