DOGE Efforts Look Different in the States: Jonathan Williams in Pluribus News
Leaders in many states are taking a close look at government spending without using the DOGE brand.
As federal agencies face sweeping reforms under Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), states across the country are pursuing their own versions of the initiative—often without the flashy branding.
Jonathan Williams, ALEC president and chief economist, said the push for leaner state governments is well underway. “Leaders in many states are taking a close look at government spending without using the DOGE brand,” Williams told Pluribus News.
“There are a lot of efforts going on that aren’t called DOGE, but are doing exactly the same thing,” he added, noting that these state-level initiatives often mirror the federal model in its goals, if not in name.
Still, Williams believes that emphasizing the work being done through dedicated legislative bodies can amplify the impact. “Going beyond by creating a special committee or commission to take a deep dive into spending is a good idea,” he said, “as state leaders likely don’t do so every time, they draw up a budget.”
However, that level of scrutiny comes with political baggage as legislators go through the budget process. “Not only is it time-consuming and difficult,” Williams cautioned, “it [risks] raising a lot of political opposition.”