Amid DOGE push, states wrestle with defining ‘government efficiency’

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds went before a Congressional committee last week to talk up her state-level efforts to implement a Department of Government Efficiency, similar to the federal version being led by tech mogul Elon Musk.

In testimony before the House Oversight Committee, Reynolds reiterated that Iowa has been “doing DOGE before DOGE was a thing,” with its efforts to revamp its tax codes, consolidate agencies and have centralized IT and technology. That work is set to continue, Reynolds said, with the state-level DOGE pledging to “continue reducing the cost of government, maximizing the return on taxpayer investment, and leveraging new technology at all levels — federal, state, and local.”

In the weeks since President Donald Trump’s inauguration, other states have looked to follow suit with DOGE efforts of their own, even as the federal version’s legality and constitutionality has been called into question. And the fault lines are already showing as states disagree over the very nature of government efficiency. Some are focused on cutting budgets, while others want to look deeper at where efficiencies can be found.

Beyond Iowa, other governors are looking to make the push for government efficiency an executive-level effort. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt issued an executive order earlier this month creating that state’s Division of Government Efficiency within the Office of Management and Enterprise Services.

State officials said it would “build upon past efficiency initiatives and focus on eliminating wasteful government spending, improving efficiency, and ensuring taxpayer dollars are being used effectively across state government.” It is expected to issue a report on its findings by March 31, with Stitt saying it will focus on “flat budgets and limiting government.”

“Our top responsibility as leaders is ensuring we are working on behalf of all four million Oklahomans in the most efficient way possible,” Stitt continued in a statement. “DOGE-OK will help identify and root out inefficiencies and government waste.”

Similarly, New Hampshire Gov. Kelly Ayotte created the Governor's Commission on Government Efficiency by executive order in early January. The state is currently seeking ideas from residents on how it can “make government more efficient and effective.”

Like Oklahoma, the version in New Hampshire promises to “streamline government, cut spending, and ensure we’re doing everything we can to create value for taxpayers,” all while ensuring the most vulnerable can still rely on government services.

Legislators also have their eyes on government efficiency work, much like the U.S. House DOGE Caucus and the House Oversight Committee’s Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency, which has started its work with invitations to public media bosses to testify and a separate hearing on improper payments.

The Texas House established a 13-member Delivery of Government Efficiency Committee in its rules for this year’s legislative session, and gave it broad jurisdiction over state agencies, departments, institutions and advisory committees. The committee is tasked with eliminating inefficiencies and can write legislation for that or to combat waste, fraud and abuse. It also is tasked with exploring how artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies can be applied.

Similarly, North Carolina House Speaker Destin Hall formed an interim House “Select Committee on Government Efficiency,” pledging to eliminate “bloat and waste.” Republican State Rep. John Torbett, one of the committee’s co-chairs, has set his sights on other areas of concern.

“North Carolinians deserve a state government that works for them,” Torbett said in a statement. “Unfortunately, our government agencies and public universities have been bogged down by bad policies and programs, like DEI, limiting their ability to enact their core purpose: serving citizens.”

The push for government efficiency is nothing new in many states, including in North Carolina, which has issued reports on the topic and had an interim House committee on government efficiency in 2001.

Both the Missouri and Kansas State Senates have specific committees on government efficiency, with both bodies already examining bills that, among other things, request waivers from federal program rules and have agency heads disclose the number of positions that have been vacant for more than 180 days.

More might follow, too. The American Legislative Exchange Council, a conservative group that provides model bills to state legislators on various topics, established its own Government Efficiency Coalition and called for states to look at how to “remedy the decades-long problem of executive overreach,” said Nino Marchese, director of the Judiciary Task Force at ALEC. That includes emergency powers, agency rulemaking and other inefficiencies.

Other states have taken a different approach in delivering what they call efficiency. In Pennsylvania, Gov. Josh Shapiro has looked to drive efficiencies in state government by streamlining and speeding up permitting processes, modernizing technology infrastructure, filling vacant jobs and other initiatives.

“Under Governor Shapiro, it now takes just 3 days to get a business license instead of 8 weeks. A barber license comes the same day instead of waiting 12,” State Sen. John Kane said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. “How’s that for ‘Government Efficiency’ without erratically firing dedicated employees?”

Rescinding executive orders are another way state leaders have looked to make government more efficient. Late last year, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis rescinded more than 200 executive orders that he said were “unnecessary, outdated, or obsolete,” and used a saw to cut them, as a visual way to make his point.