Red states across the country are following President Donald Trump’s lead in trying to reduce the size and cost of government by creating their own government efficiency initiatives. From Texas to Kansas, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin, GOP leaders are setting up task forces and committees to find ways to cut state spending.
While conservatives have long advocated for smaller government, Democrats argue that these efforts may be redundant as many states already have watchdogs and efficiency panels. Despite this, GOP governors are pushing ahead with plans to streamline state agencies and cut spending in response to massive budget gaps caused by the economic impact of the pandemic.
In Iowa, Republican Governor Kim Reynolds recently announced the creation of a DOGE advisory body to find further savings in state and local government. But Democrats in the state argue that efficiencies can be found through existing government watchdogs like the state auditor.
Across the country, policymakers are facing tough decisions on where to cut spending as revenues decline. Groups like the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) are providing guidance to lawmakers on how to make governments more efficient, with a focus on performance audits.
Efforts to make government more efficient may not lead to drastic changes overnight, but incremental steps such as those taken by the Kansas Senate Committee on Government Efficiency show a commitment to examining and improving the effectiveness and costs of government programs. As states tighten their budgets, the push for government efficiency is likely to remain a key issue on both sides of the political divide.
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