Bloated government bureaucracy, vanishing hard-earned tax dollars, and resources wasted rather than serving We the People are the target of DOGE, and Red State America is adopting the federal initiative of President Trump and Elon Musk.
This from thepatriotjournal.com.
Florida stands as a model of efficient governance, having paid down 41 percent of state debt since 2019 while maintaining robust services for residents. And yet…
Governor Ron DeSantis announced Monday that Florida is creating a “DOGE task force” to further streamline state government, eliminate unnecessary bureaucracy, and ensure tax dollars are used in the most efficient way possible. He emphasized Florida “has never been in better fiscal health.” However, he added, “There is always room for improvement.”
DeSantis said during his announcement in Tampa:
We are creating a state DOGE task force that will implement a multi-pronged approach to eliminating bureaucratic bloat and modernizing our state government to best serve the people of Florida in the years ahead.
The Florida DOGE task force will operate on a one-year timeline with a specific sunset provision, focusing on measurable results rather than becoming yet another permanent government entity. This limited timeframe ensures accountability and prevents mission creep—problems that have plagued government initiatives for decades.
DeSantis plans to leverage cutting-edge technology, including artificial intelligence, to identify inefficiencies in state operations. This technological approach will help analyze government contracts, payments, and operations with greater precision than traditional human reviews.
He explained:
We looked to see what Musk is doing with the Department of Government Efficiency in Washington, D.C.
Further:
The one thing I think they are doing that we need to incorporate is to utilize and leverage technology like artificial intelligence to be able to police the payments and the operations and the contracts that are done in government.
The governor proudly noted that “Florida was DOGE before DOGE was cool.” Indeed, he highlighted the state’s long-standing commitment to fiscal responsibility that predates the current national focus on government efficiency.
The Florida DOGE initiative aims to sunset approximately 70 state boards and commissions while cutting approximately 900 positions from the state government payroll. These targeted reductions focus on eliminating redundancy rather than cutting essential services.
NOTE:
Since taking office in 2019, DeSantis has saved billions for Florida taxpayers, including $3.8 billion in last year’s budget alone.
These savings haven’t come at the expense of state services—Florida continues to thrive economically while maintaining a balanced budget.
State Board of Administration Executive Director Chris Spencer appeared alongside DeSantis at Monday’s press conference. He emphasized the importance of continuing to seek out inefficiencies even in a well-run system. The task force will examine local government expenditures as well, ensuring that waste is eliminated at all levels.
For conservatives who champion limited government, the Florida approach offers a roadmap for responsible governance. Rather than making across-the-board cuts, the DOGE task force will use data and technology to make surgical reductions in areas where waste is identified.
A significant focus of Florida’s DOGE initiative will be examining higher education spending. The task force plans to conduct deep dives into:
– university operations,
– financial management practices, and
– academic offerings.
Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. spoke in favor of the initiative.
He stated:
While Florida has made great strides in refocusing our higher education system on educating students for their future, we must continue to dive into administrative spending and reduce bloat so our record of success may continue.
The university audits will include examining course catalogues and staffing to ensure Florida students receive education that prepares them for meaningful employment after graduation. This practical approach contrasts with ideologically-driven programs found in many university systems across the country.
This focus on practical education aligns with conservative values that view taxpayer-funded education as an investment that should yield tangible benefits for both students and society—not as a vehicle for advancing political agendas.
The initiative builds upon Florida’s 2024 law that banned public colleges from using state funds for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs. It further ensures that education dollars go toward academic achievement rather than administrative bloat.
As government efficiency initiatives gain momentum nationally, Florida’s approach offers several important lessons:
First, fiscal responsibility requires ongoing vigilance—even well-run systems can develop inefficiencies over time.
Second, technology can be leveraged to identify waste that human reviewers might miss.
Finally, government programs should have clear missions, measurable outcomes, and sunset provisions to prevent permanent bureaucratic expansion.
Florida’s DOGE task force represents a commitment to conservative principles of limited government and fiscal responsibility.
