Latest news with #DOGETaskForce
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Idaho GOP leaders announce new DOGE Task Force
From left to right, House Majority Caucus Chairman Jaron Crane, R-Nampa; House Speaker Mike Moyle, R-Star; House Majority Leader Jason Monks, R-Meridian; and House Assistant Majority Leader Josh Tanner, R-Eagle, host a press conference on Jan. 6, 2025, at the Statehouse in Boise. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun) Republican Idaho legislative leaders announced Thursday they formed the Idaho Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE Task Force. The Idaho DOGE Task Force is inspired by House Bill 364, an unsuccessful bill from the just-finished 2025 Idaho legislative session and the federal task force in President Donald Trump's administration that is headed up by billionaire Elon Musk. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX House Bill 364 sought to create the Department of Government Efficiency Legislative Task Force in Idaho, but it never made it to the floor of the Idaho Senate for a vote and died when the 2025 legislative session adjourned April 4. Even though legislators couldn't reach an agreement on the task force during the session, Rep. Jaron Crane, R-Nampa, issued a press release Thursday saying that Idaho House and Senate Republican leaders jointly announced the formation of the Idaho DOGE Task Force as part of a unified front. Crane serves as the House majority caucus chairman as part of the Republican leadership team. CONTACT US 'We have talked a lot about eliminating redundancy, cutting back on red tape, and the responsibility we have to prevent waste,' Crane said in a written statement Thursday. 'Since 1974, there has been no reconstruction on Idaho's government at all, that was under Gov. Cecil Andrus. That was the last time we looked at reorganizing the government and making it more efficient.' According to Thursday's announcement, the Idaho DOGE Task Force will have three areas of focus. Government agency consolidation: Idaho Republican leaders said they will evaluate and implement strategies to merge redundant agencies and optimize services. Government employee travel: Republicans said they will review and reduce unnecessary state-funded travel in order to cut costs. Eliminating unnecessary state government employee positions: Idaho Republicans said they are assessing and restructuring government roles to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent efficiently. 'Idaho's Legislative DOGE Committee is a significant move towards streamlining government operations and enhancing State efficiency,' House Speaker Mike Moyle, R-Star, said in a written statement provided by Crane. Crane told the Sun the new DOGE Task Force will have public meetings, like a legislative interim committee or joint committee. A date and location for the first meeting had yet to be announced Thursday. Crane said the next step is to populate the committee with members. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Fox News
07-04-2025
- Business
- Fox News
Gov. DeSantis' new DOGE task force gains momentum as universities, localities commit to being audited
Local jurisdictions and public universities in Florida are latching on to Gov. Ron DeSantis' new state-level DOGE Task Force, including through formal resolutions, independent committees and additional resources supporting the new initiative. DeSantis announced the creation of "Florida DOGE" in February, a program similar to the one led at the federal level by Elon Musk. The audit intends to utilize artificial intelligence and other measures to uncover hidden waste, review state university and college operations and spending, eliminate "redundant" boards or commissions, and examine entities' spending habits. The initiative intends to ensure financial compliance with all state laws, provide recommendations and submit referrals to the appropriate enforcement agencies when necessary. The governor subsequently sent out official guidance in March to various counties and municipalities, as well as to public colleges and universities, requesting they confirm their willingness to comply with the audit. The guidance also ordered the appointment of a proxy to be the primary point of contact throughout the initiative. In response, some of Florida's largest jurisdictions and public institutions – like Hillsborough County, the City of Jacksonville, and Florida Atlantic University – have signaled their willingness to comply with the audit. Their efforts include passing formal resolutions and creating independent committees to support the governor's initiative. "Completing this DOGE audit is a no-brainer when you consider the inefficiencies we've already stumbled across – like old, forgotten bank accounts sitting there with millions of dollars just gathering dust," said Hillsborough County Commissioner Joshua Wostal, who helped spearhead the resolution affirming the county's willingness to open its doors. In Jacksonville, the city created a "Duval DOGE" task force that has already begun conducting meetings and is zeroing in on tens of millions of dollars in capital improvement projects that have sat idle since 2023, according to WJXT Channel 4 in Jacksonville. This week, the "Duval DOGE" task force also launched a website to track the work being done with the ongoing audit. However, while residents in Jacksonville have been supportive of the effort, others have pushed back. "DOGE is a misnomer, catchy misnomer for let's see what we can take away from the working class, the needy, the elderly. We don't need it," Duval County resident Russell Harper said during a city hall meeting about the new "Duval DOGE" committee. Other residents complained that the "Duval DOGE" lacked adequate Democratic representation and was just an effort to gain favor with political elites. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives at public colleges and universities will also be part of the audit. The governor's DOGE task force aims to ensure that no state funds support these programs, in line with a resolution passed by the state board of education last year prohibiting such spending. Florida DOGE also intends to "abolish" 70 redundant boards and commissions around the state, per a February press release from the governor's office announcing the new audits. "Florida was DOGE before DOGE was cool," DeSantis spokesperson Brian Wright said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "Over the past five years, Florida, under Governor Ron DeSantis, has eliminated dozens of unnecessary boards, lifted needless regulations, and reduced spending. Florida has paid down 41% of our state's debt, strengthened our economy, and increased our rainy-day fund by nearly $10 billion – all without raising taxes." Wostal said the new DOGE audit was a better response than just raising taxes to pay for needed services. "Instead of the knee-jerk response of raising taxes – putting even more strain on already stretched households – it's time for the government to turn the lens inward," he said.
Miami Herald
26-02-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
DeSantis declares war on wasteful spending—after years of overseeing it
The problem with DeSantis wanting to cut excessive spending in Florida, is that Republicans have been in charge of spending for nearly three decades. Since Jeb Bush took office in 1999, the GOP has held the governor's office and has controlled both chambers of the Legislature since 1996. If there is any wasteful spending by the state, it falls on the shoulders of the Republicans who have had the power of the purse. In another move to copy President Donald Trump, Gov. Ron DeSantis has announced the creation of Florida's own Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE Task Force). DeSantis' DOGE Task Force is similar to the quasi-department that has garnered a lot of national attention and some criticism for the hash way it is going about firing federal workers under the guise of 'government efficiency.' At a press conference on Monday, DeSantis announced the creation of his DOGE Task Force in an effort to keep Florida efficient. The initiative whose name is a nod to the Elon Musk-led DOGE agency, seems out of place in a state that has been touted by DeSantis as the standard 'for fiscally conservative governance.' The task force will cut 70 state boards along with potentially eliminating 1,700 state worker jobs. In addition, Florida DOGE will audit universities and local municipalities and counties to expose bloat and wasteful spending. 'For too long, nobody has cared about the taxpayers, much less the next generation, who is ultimately going to have to pay for all of the mismanagement that we have seen over these many, many years,' DeSantis explained. In the executive order establishing the task force, he said the overall goal is to eliminate 'bureaucratic bloat and modernizing our state government to best serve the people of Florida.' At best, the task force will tighten an already fiscally conservative state's spending. At worst, this could turn into a witch hunt to target opposing ideology in the higher education system and also an overreach to curb and interfere with local government spending. The focus on higher education comes on the heels of Republican appointments of new university presidents to various Florida universities, including Florida International University, and the Florida Board of Governors recent vote earlier this year to overhaul the state university curriculum, removing hundreds of courses from general education offerings. Local government budgets will also be audited by DeSantis' task force, because local governments have been increasing their budgets as well as property taxes to fund spending., he said? Overall, DeSantis's DOGE Task Force represents a fundamental contradiction for a political party where fiscal conservatism is a central tenet: The Republican governor is running an audit on Republican spending, and is basically admitting the GOP's decades-long control of state government has supposedly resulted in waste and inefficiency. DeSantis' task force feels like political theater aimed at staying above the fold and remaining relevant. There are better task forces the governor could assemble that would help the Sunshine State beyond a misguided mimicking of Trump policies, such as addressing the insurance crisis, or increased cost of living affecting all Floridians, especially our seniors. If the governor is serious about efficiency, perhaps he should start by examining his own priorities, such as the nearly $300 million bill recently passed by the legislature for immigration enforcement, fighting culture wars in classrooms or the $17 million in legal fees to fight Disney. Each of those efforts could have been directed toward meaningful improvements in the state If Republicans have been recklessly spending Florida taxpayer dollars, then why has it taken DeSantis seven years to take action? Click here to send the letter.
Yahoo
16-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Top Trump agency recovers eye-popping sum after launching DOGE task force
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner announced a new Department of Government Efficiency task force on Thursday to "eliminate waste, fraud and abuse" at his federal agency. DOGE revealed that $1.9 billion in HUD money had been recovered as of Friday, saying the funds were misplaced during the Biden administration and were "earmarked for the administration of financial services, but were no longer needed." DOGE said it worked with Turner to release the funds, and they are now available for use by the U.S. Department of Treasury. Turner said HUD launched its own DOGE Task Force to review how the agency is spending taxpayer money. HUD employees will lead the task force with a mission to maximize their budget and efficiency, reporting their findings directly to Turner. Expert Reveals Massive Levels Of Waste Doge Can Slash From Entitlements, Pet Projects: 'A Lot Of Fat' "HUD will be detailed and deliberate about every dollar spent to serve rural, tribal and urban communities. Thanks to President Trump's leadership, we are no longer in a business-as-usual posture, and the DOGE task force will play a critical role in helping to identify and eliminate waste, fraud and abuse and ultimately better serve the American people," Turner said. Read On The Fox News App Trump Team Digs In, Finds Millions Of Wasted Dollars At Epa, Hud With Doge Help Turner said he established the task force to comply with President Donald Trump's executive order to "maximize governmental efficiency and productivity." The HUD DOGE Task Force will work to "ensure all programs, processes and personnel are working together to advance the purpose of the department." HUD is responsible for national housing policy and urban development, and its programs include affordable housing programs, community development, homeowner support, fair housing and anti-discrimination enforcement, homelessness services, and affordable housing programs. Turner said during his announcement Thursday that the DOGE Task Force had already identified over $260 million in savings. "We have already identified over $260 million in savings, and we have more to accomplish," Turner said. As Elon Musk and DOGE comb their way through the federal bureaucracy, some agencies are conducting their own investigations to meet DOGE halfway. Administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency Lee Zeldin announced on Thursday he had canceled a $50 million environmental justice grant. "I canceled a $50 million grant to an organization called the Climate Justice Alliance. They say that climate justice runs through a free Palestine. I think that the American taxpayer wouldn't want $50 million going to this left-wing advocacy group. It's canceled," Zeldin said. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has also committed to cooperating with DOGE to cut wasteful spending at the Department of Defense. "We will partner with them. It's long overdue. The Defense Department's got a huge budget, but it needs to be responsible," Hegseth told Fox article source: Top Trump agency recovers eye-popping sum after launching DOGE task force
Yahoo
16-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Top Trump agency recovers eye-popping sum after launching DOGE task force
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner announced a new Department of Government Efficiency task force on Thursday to "eliminate waste, fraud and abuse" at his federal agency. DOGE revealed that $1.9 billion in HUD money had been recovered as of Friday, saying the funds were misplaced during the Biden administration and were "earmarked for the administration of financial services, but were no longer needed." DOGE said it worked with Turner to release the funds, and they are now available for use by the U.S. Department of Treasury. Turner said HUD launched its own DOGE Task Force to review how the agency is spending taxpayer money. HUD employees will lead the task force with a mission to maximize their budget and efficiency, reporting their findings directly to Turner. Expert Reveals Massive Levels Of Waste Doge Can Slash From Entitlements, Pet Projects: 'A Lot Of Fat' "HUD will be detailed and deliberate about every dollar spent to serve rural, tribal and urban communities. Thanks to President Trump's leadership, we are no longer in a business-as-usual posture, and the DOGE task force will play a critical role in helping to identify and eliminate waste, fraud and abuse and ultimately better serve the American people," Turner said. Read On The Fox News App Trump Team Digs In, Finds Millions Of Wasted Dollars At Epa, Hud With Doge Help Turner said he established the task force to comply with President Donald Trump's executive order to "maximize governmental efficiency and productivity." The HUD DOGE Task Force will work to "ensure all programs, processes and personnel are working together to advance the purpose of the department." HUD is responsible for national housing policy and urban development, and its programs include affordable housing programs, community development, homeowner support, fair housing and anti-discrimination enforcement, homelessness services, and affordable housing programs. Turner said during his announcement Thursday that the DOGE Task Force had already identified over $260 million in savings. "We have already identified over $260 million in savings, and we have more to accomplish," Turner said. As Elon Musk and DOGE comb their way through the federal bureaucracy, some agencies are conducting their own investigations to meet DOGE halfway. Administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency Lee Zeldin announced on Thursday he had canceled a $50 million environmental justice grant. "I canceled a $50 million grant to an organization called the Climate Justice Alliance. They say that climate justice runs through a free Palestine. I think that the American taxpayer wouldn't want $50 million going to this left-wing advocacy group. It's canceled," Zeldin said. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has also committed to cooperating with DOGE to cut wasteful spending at the Department of Defense. "We will partner with them. It's long overdue. The Defense Department's got a huge budget, but it needs to be responsible," Hegseth told Fox article source: Top Trump agency recovers eye-popping sum after launching DOGE task force
