logo
DOGE in Kentucky? Lawmakers introduce bills to create new state efficiency task force

DOGE in Kentucky? Lawmakers introduce bills to create new state efficiency task force

Yahoo19-02-2025

A bill that would establish Kentucky's equivalent to the federal Department of Government Efficiency recently formed by President Donald Trump has been introduced in the Kentucky Senate.
Sen. Lindsey Tichenor, R-Smithfield introduced Senate Bill 256, which would create a government office called the "Kentucky Office of Government Efficiency," Tuesday, according to a news release from the Senate Majority Caucus. The new department would focus on eliminating waste and enhancing cost efficiency in state government.
"Kentuckians expect their government to operate efficiently and responsibly," Tichenor said in a statement. "This legislation will create a department focused on holding state agencies accountable, cutting waste and delivering real results for taxpayers."
The proposal calls for a system similar to DOGE, the new federal initiative led by tech-billionaire Elon Musk and greenlit by Trump. In the weeks since Trump took office, Musk and his team have scoured several federal agencies searching for ways to save money, eliminating hundreds of positions across the government and reviewing established contracts for "wasteful" spending.
The proposal suggests forming the "Kentucky Office of Government Efficiency" within the Office of the Auditor of Public Accounts. Under the framework, the Auditor of Public Accounts would carry out performance audits and operational reviews of state agencies to look for inefficiencies, wasteful spending and opportunities to save, the news release said.
The office would develop best practices and recommendations based on findings and oversee the implementation of recommendations.
Meanwhile in the Kentucky House of Representatives, a separate proposal also aims to snuff out government inefficiencies.
Reps. TJ Roberts, R-Burlington, and John F. Hodgson, R-Fisherville, introduced House Concurrent Resolution 50 Tuesday, which would create a Task Force called the "Kentucky Discipline of Government Efficiency."
The task force, which is described as a "companion measure" to the Senate bill, would include 10 members, Roberts said in a statement on social media. The House Speaker would appoint four members, the Senate President would nominate four members and the minority leaders from each chamber would each appoint one member.
"This initiative will review executive branch spending to enhance efficiency, cut waste and prioritize essential services, ensuring Kentuckians' tax dollars are used wisely in our 2026 budget. Building on our recent tax relief success, the Task Force will unite citizens, stakeholders, and lawmakers to create a more accountable government," Roberts said.
Contact reporter Killian Baarlaer at kbaarlaer@gannett.com or @bkillian72 on X.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky DOGE? Lawmakers file bills to create state equivalent

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Is 4,700 federal troops a big deployment?
Is 4,700 federal troops a big deployment?

New York Times

time15 minutes ago

  • New York Times

Is 4,700 federal troops a big deployment?

About 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines have been sent to Los Angeles as of Tuesday morning, after President Trump bypassed California leaders who said federal forces were not needed to respond to mostly peaceful protests. Here's how the deployment compares to past military activations on domestic soil responding to social unrest. 2021: Attack on the Capitol In 2021, officials in Washington initially requested 340 National Guard members to help respond to planned protests on Jan. 5 and Jan. 6, according to the military. As the protests on Jan. 6 against the 2020 presidential election results deteriorated, with a violent mob attacking police officers and the Capitol, the mayor of Washington D.C., Muriel Bowser, requested assistance, and 1,100 D.C. National Guard members were sent. Later that night, the acting defense secretary at the time, Chris Miller, mobilized 6,200 more National Guard members from other states to ensure peace in the days leading up to former President Joseph R. Biden's inauguration. 2020: George Floyd Protests After protests sprung up around the United States in response to the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, National Guard members were deployed to several states. As of June 3, 2020, the National Guard had deployed more than 18,000 members in 28 states to respond to civil unrest related to Mr. Floyd's murder at the request of the states' governors. Another 42,000 National Guard members were activated at the same time for the coronavirus pandemic response. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.

Space and defense tech firm Voyager raises $382.8 million in US IPO
Space and defense tech firm Voyager raises $382.8 million in US IPO

Yahoo

time20 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Space and defense tech firm Voyager raises $382.8 million in US IPO

(Reuters) -Voyager Technologies raised $382.8 million in its U.S. initial public offering, the space and defense tech company said on Tuesday, amid a global rush to amp up military spending. The company, which provides mission-critical space and defense technology solutions, along with some investors sold roughly 12.35 million shares at $31 per share, above its marketed range of $26 to $29. The offering is the latest in recent weeks as the U.S. IPO market regained its footing after being restricted by tariff-driven volatility. The Denver, Colorado–based company's IPO comes as President Donald Trump's administration looks to sharply increase spending on defense and space projects. Trump last month selected a design for his $175 billion Golden Dome project, a next-generation U.S. missile defense shield. The stock will trade on the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday under the symbol "VOYG". Morgan Stanley and J.P. Morgan are the lead underwriters on the listing.

Newsom Warns Trump May Use Soldiers on Immigration Raids
Newsom Warns Trump May Use Soldiers on Immigration Raids

Bloomberg

time21 minutes ago

  • Bloomberg

Newsom Warns Trump May Use Soldiers on Immigration Raids

Gavin Newsom is warning that Donald Trump's use of troops where state and local officials don't want them is actually a test, one the Republican president may seek to replicate across other American towns and cities as part of his mass deportation effort. 'We're getting word that he's looking to operationalize that relationship and advance significantly larger-scale ICE operations in partnership and collaboration with the National Guard,' the Democratic governor said on the podcast Pod Save America. Such a move would likely be illegal for reasons similar to those Newsom has cited in litigation to stop Trump's use of the military in Los Angeles. Legal experts have said that, as with many of Trump's emergency declarations since he took office, there is no legal basis for the Republican's move to take control of the California National Guard. State and city officials have reported that protests against Trump and his immigration raids have been largely peaceful during the day with minor skirmishes at night, while limited to a few parts of a city that spreads over several hundred square miles. With no reported deaths and few injuries—some among journalists shot with plastic rounds by local police —protests have begun spreading across the country. Demonstrations have been held in New York City, San Francisco, Chicago, Texas and Washington. Meanwhile, Trump's federalization of 4,000 members of California National Guard and his ordering of 700 active duty Marines to Los Angeles will reportedly cost $134 million for 60 days.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store