Lean Government is a term used, mostly in the United States and Canada but increasingly more in international public administration circles, to describe an evidence based process for the state to identify the most efficient and value added way to provide needed government services. The practice uses a process called Value Stream Mapping to analyze administrative processes. The results are used to design technology use, task completion and staffing patterns to meet the identified need.

Lean Government practices promote and transform the state into an efficient operation that ebbs and flow with identified needs for infrastructure, education and other services based on the political changes in policy. Lean Government proponents generally believe that the government should cut out "waste" and "inefficiency" from the State, which will result in overall better services and more value for tax supported necessities.

Lean government does not necessary promote low taxes only efficient use of those taxes levied. Tax policy is discerned by the legislative and executive branches of government with oversight of the judicial branch of government. Lean Government is implemented by the administrative function of government through executive order, legislative mandate or departmental administrative decisions.

Some current examples where lean government practices have been implemented include:

Maine Department of Labor

Connecticut Department of Labor

"Lean Government" is also used to describe the principles of "Lean Manufacturing" as they relate to government. For more information about lean manufacturing see Maine MEP - Maine Manufacturing Extension Partnership