State-Level Efforts to Replicate Departments of Government Efficiency (DOGE)

Several states have created or proposed state-level Government Efficiency offices — often referred to as “DOGE” or a similar acronym. Typically, these entities are tasked with identifying wasteful spending, streamlining agencies, and improving performance. In 2025, governors in states such as Iowa, Oklahoma, New Hampshire, and Florida launched executive initiatives or commissions on efficiency. Legislators in Texas, North Carolina, and Oklahoma established efficiency committees, while lawmakers in other states — including Kentucky, Illinois, New Jersey, South Carolina, and Idaho — introduced or advanced bills and resolutions to institutionalize efficiency reviews during the 2025 legislative sessions.

Key Findings

Focus on Operational Efficiencies

States streamlined processes and reduced redundancies to optimize government functions.

Executive Oversight Mechanisms

Many states established task forces or dedicated offices to track agency performance and spending.

Transparency and Public Engagement

Several states launched open data initiatives, public reporting systems, and citizen input portals to enhance accountability.

Technology and Innovation

Artificial intelligence (AI), digital analytics, and automation are improving service delivery and cost management.

Cost Savings as a Primary Goal

States such as Iowa and Texas demonstrated that efficiency initiatives yield financial benefits.

Executive Action on Government Efficiency

Following the federal Executive Order 14158 establishing a U.S. Department of Government Efficiency in early 2025, numerous state governors moved to create their own versions. Even before 2025, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds was making efforts to redo Iowa’s tax codes, consolidate agencies and centralize IT to cut costs. In a U.S. Oversight Committee meeting, she testified Iowa was “doing DOGE before DOGE was a thing.” In 2023–24, Iowa undertook a major reorganization of state government, merging agencies to eliminate duplication. Reynolds pledged the new Iowa efficiency office would “continue reducing the cost of government [and] maximizing the return on taxpayer investment…” The Department of Government Efficiency Task Force is a significant step by Reynolds to reduce redundancy and improve service delivery.

Similarly, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt established Oklahoma’s Division of Government Efficiency (DOGE-OK). Operating within the Office of Management and Enterprise Services, DOGE-OK is working to identify inefficiencies across agencies and implement cost-cutting strategies. Stitt appointed Marc Nuttle as Senior Advisor to DOGE-OK and the division completed a rapid review of agency budgets and provided a detailed report to the governor by March 31.

Indiana prioritized government efficiency through a series of executive orders signed by Gov. Mike Braun. These executive actions streamline state operations, boost transparency, and promote fiscal discipline while reducing regulatory burdens. Notable initiatives include EO 2025-11, which organizes all active executive orders for greater transparency; EO 2025-12, which directs the Office of Management and Budget to develop policies ensuring agencies operate within their budgets; and EO 2025-13, which establishes performance metrics to monitor state agency effectiveness. Additional executive orders address deregulation efforts, including EO 2025-17, which mandates a 25% reduction in regulatory burdens by Jan. 1, 2029, and EO 2025-18, which reduces professional licensing requirements where possible. These reforms align with broader efforts to create a leaner, more efficient state government.

New Hampshire Gov. Kelly Ayotte established the Commission on Government Efficiency, co-chaired by former Gov. Craig Benson and businessman Andy Crews. The commission aims to assess and improve the effectiveness of state operations, focusing on fiscal responsibility, performance metrics, and sustainable government practices. The commission is soliciting ideas from state employees and the public on making government more effective. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced a Florida State Department of Government Efficiency, which will oversee government spending, higher education audits, and the elimination of redundant agencies. Florida’s DOGE will run in tandem with its Government Efficiency Task Force, a constitutionally mandated body that convenes every four years, which provides strategic recommendations on long-term government efficiency improvements. These state-led efforts emphasize proactive reforms that ensure taxpayer dollars are used efficiently.

As executive-led DOGE initiatives grow, state legislatures are taking an active role in shaping efficiency policies. Legislatures in several states are considering or have passed legislation to establish their own government efficiency commissions. These legislative commissions operate independently from the executive branch and focus on long-term structural improvements, performance-based budgeting, and ensuring the sustainability of cost-saving measures.

Legislative Action on Government Efficiency

Rather than an executive office, the Texas House of Representatives created a 13-member interim committee on the Delivery of Government Efficiency in 2025. It is comprised of eight Republicans and five Democrats. Rep. Giovanni Capriglione serves as the chair and Rep. Salman Bhojani serves as vice chair. The legislative committee has broad jurisdiction over all state agencies and is empowered to draft legislation to eliminate inefficiencies and combat waste, fraud, and abuse​. The committee also explores how emerging technologies like artificial intelligence can improve government services. Additionally, Texas lawmakers are considering a bill to rename the Sunset Advisory Commission into a Texas Department of Government Efficiency, an advisory body to evaluate agencies and recommend improvements to biennially.

North Carolina House Speaker Destin Hall formed an interim select committee — House Select Committee on Government Efficiency — in 2025, signaling a focus on eliminating “bloat and waste.” Legislative leaders in North Carolina noted the state studied efficiency before in a similar 2001 committee and issued reports, but renewed efforts aim to scrutinize policies seen as diverting from core missions. In Oklahoma, the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency, created in 2019, operates as a nonpartisan agency within the legislative branch. It provides budgetary recommendations and has delivered 32 reports with 146 agency recommendations to improve government spending. In late 2024, Speaker Kyle Hilbert unveiled a Government Efficiency Portal to allow citizens to report waste or duplication in state government.

The 2025 legislative session has seen proposals from multiple states for the creation of efficiency bodies through statutes or resolutions (see Table 1). Kentucky debated two proposals in 2025: Senate Bill 257 would have created the Kentucky Office of Government Efficiency (KOGE) in the Auditor’s Office, and a parallel House Concurrent Resolution 50 to form a “KY DOGE” Task Force directed by the Legislative Research Commission.

The South Carolina Senate introduced a joint resolution, S.J.R. 318, to create a temporary commission on efficiency, chaired by the Department of Administration director. The nine-member commission would review spending and recommend cuts by Oct. 1, 2026, before sunsetting​.

A group of New Jersey legislators proposed Assembly Joint Resolution 213 to form an independent Delegation on Government Efficiency​. Chaired by the State Auditor, this delegation would include auditing and management experts and gathering public input. It is tasked with recommending how to “better save public funds and…implement greater efficiencies in government functions,” potentially including eliminating agencies​. The New Jersey DOGE would report findings within 20 months.

Common Strategies for Government Efficiency

Across these states, key strategies emerged as effective tools for improving government efficiency.

  • Regulatory Reduction and Streamlining: Many states are working to cut excessive regulations, reduce bureaucratic burdens, and implement sunset provisions to phase out outdated rules.
  • Fiscal Discipline and Budget Accountability: Governors and legislatures are prioritizing policies that ensure agencies operate within their budgets, including performance-based budgeting and spending oversight.
  • Government Transparency and Public Access: States are increasing accessibility by creating public dashboards, executive order repositories, and efficient reporting tools to improve accountability.
  • Legislative Oversight and Structural Reforms: Many states are creating legislative commissions and task forces focused on reviewing agency efficiency, streamlining operations, and increasing government effectiveness.
  • Public Engagement and Reporting Mechanisms: Some states are introducing public-facing platforms where residents can report inefficiencies, waste, and duplicative government services.

These state-level DOGE initiatives generally serve advisory and investigatory roles — they review operations and spending to recommend improvements but usually do not have direct authority to implement cuts. For instance, Kentucky’s proposed KOGE could make recommendations but cannot unilaterally change agency practices​. As well, many of the new efficiency offices are temporary or pilot efforts. For example, Oklahoma’s DOGE-OK will sunset in 2026.

In summary, most states are actively pursuing some form of DOGE-like initiative to improve government efficiency. These range from formal departments and commissions to legislative committees and task forces. The common thread is a recognition that state governments must innovate and scrutinize themselves to eliminate wasteful spending and deliver better value to taxpayers.