DeSantis says Florida to adopt DOGE for enhanced government efficiency

Investing.com -- Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has announced the state’s adoption of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a program initiated by Elon Musk at the request of President Trump.

The DOGE program is set to be implemented in Florida as a part of the state’s ongoing efforts to enhance financial efficiency and accountability. The introduction of DOGE is expected to further streamline government operations, following significant fiscal achievements since 2019, including tripling the rainy day fund, eliminating 41% of the state’s historical debt, and maintaining the lowest number of state employees per capita nationwide.

The DOGE initiative in Florida will incorporate advanced technology, such as artificial intelligence (AI), to amplify efficiency efforts, conduct audits at state universities, and plan the elimination of over 70 state boards and commissions. The state is also looking to work with the Legislature to authorize the DOGE-ing of local governments.

On Monday, Governor DeSantis issued Executive Order Number 25-44, titled "Ensuring Government Efficiency." The order underscores the importance of efficient, effective, transparent, and responsive state and local governments. It also emphasizes the need for fiscal accountability to minimize financial burdens on the taxpayer and calls for continued efforts to eliminate unnecessary and inappropriate spending.

The Executive Order highlights Florida’s strong record of responsible fiscal management and stewardship, including balancing the budget each year and consistently working towards streamlining government operations. For instance, the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 “Focus on Florida’s Future” Budget saved Florida taxpayers $3.5 billion.

The proposed Fiscal Year 2025-2026 “Focus on Fiscal Responsibility” Budget aims to lower spending even further, saving Florida taxpayers an additional $3 billion compared to the current year budget. It also plans to eliminate over 740 state government positions, recommends $2.2 billion in tax relief, and requires a comprehensive review of federal grant funding received and expended in the state.

The Executive Order also establishes an EO DOGE Team within the Office of Policy and Budget in the Executive Office of the Governor. The team will be responsible for ensuring compliance with the Executive Order and using publicly available information to identify and report unnecessary spending within county and municipal governments. The EO DOGE Team is expected to report any legislative recommendations to the Governor, the Chief Financial Officer, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives no later than September 30, 2025.

The order also mandates each state agency to establish an Agency DOGE Team to utilize advanced technology, such as AI, in ongoing efforts to identify and eliminate unnecessary spending, programs, or contracts within the agency.

The Board of Governors of the State University System of Florida and the State Board of Education will collaborate with the EO DOGE Team to identify and eliminate unnecessary spending, programs, courses, staff, and any other inefficiencies within the State University System and the Florida College System.

The Executive Order is effective immediately and will expire on March 31, 2026.

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