Gov DeSantis creates Florida DOGE
On February 24, 2025,
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed an executive order launching a state-level "DOGE Task Force
inspired by the federal Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative spearheaded by Elon Musk under President Donald Trump’s administration. This move reflects DeSantis’ ongoing commitment to fiscal conservatism and reducing government inefficiencies, a theme he claims has defined his tenure since taking office in 2019. The task force’s primary mission is to scrutinize and streamline state spending, aiming to save taxpayers money while ensuring accountability across various sectors of Florida’s government.
The DOGE Task Force, set to operate for one year until March 31, 2026, will employ a multi-faceted strategy to achieve its goals.
One of its cornerstone approaches is the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to conduct detailed audits of state operations. This includes analyzing payments, contracts, and expenditures to identify inefficiencies or wasteful spending. DeSantis highlighted the potential of AI to modernize government processes, drawing parallels to the federal DOGE’s efforts to leverage technology for transparency and cost-cutting. The task force will focus on several key areas: state agencies, local governments, and higher education institutions, with a particular emphasis on eliminating what DeSantis deems unnecessary bureaucracy.
A significant component of the initiative targets Florida’s state university system.
The task force will undertake an independent audit of university operations, examining financial management, debt levels, course offerings, and staffing. DeSantis emphasized aligning academic programs with “traditional educational goals” to prepare students for “meaningful employment,” explicitly calling for the removal of courses he considers ideologically driven. This aligns with his previous efforts to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs from Florida’s public universities, signaling a continued push to reshape higher education in the state.
Beyond universities, the task force aims to abolish approximately 70 state boards and commissions, which DeSantis argues are outdated or redundant. This move could lead to the elimination of around 900 state positions, though he has suggested reallocating some staff to under-resourced agencies like the Department of Corrections. Since taking office, DeSantis noted that Florida has maintained the lowest number of state government workers per capita in the U.S., alongside achievements like reducing state debt by 41% and tripling the state’s rainy day fund. The DOGE Task Force is framed as a natural extension of these efforts, with the governor asserting that Florida was “DOGE before DOGE was cool.”
The initiative also extends its reach to local governments with plans to audit municipal and county spending using publicly available records. DeSantis expressed concern over rising local budgets and property taxes, suggesting that taxpayers have not been adequately represented in these decisions. To enforce these audits, he intends to work with Florida’s GOP-controlled legislature to grant the task force authority, potentially overriding local resistance to such reviews. Supporters of the plan, including State Board of Administration Executive Director Chris Spencer and Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr., praise it as a bold step toward fiscal responsibility. Spencer highlighted Florida’s strong credit rating and debt repayment record as evidence of the state’s financial prudence, while Diaz emphasized ensuring university funds focus on student outcomes. DeSantis himself framed the task force as a way to protect future generations from the burden of mismanagement, positioning it as a taxpayer-friendly reform.
The announcement, made during a press conference in Tampa, comes amid a broader national conversation about government efficiency sparked by the federal DOGE initiative. DeSantis’ adoption of the DOGE moniker and its methods underscores his alignment with Trump’s agenda, which he has increasingly embraced since the latter’s return to office in January 2025. This includes supporting hard-line immigration policies and recognizing Trump’s executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico. The Florida DOGE Task Force is thus both a practical policy endeavor and a political statement, reinforcing DeSantis’ image as a fiscally conservative leader attuned to national Republican priorities.
While the task force’s scope is ambitious, its success will depend on legislative backing and the effectiveness of its AI-driven audits. DeSantis has already begun discussions with legislative leaders like House Speaker Danny Perez and Senate President Ben Albritton to secure enforcement powers. The initiative’s one-year timeline adds urgency to its mission, with the goal of delivering concrete recommendations by its sunset date. For now, it represents a significant escalation in DeSantis’ efforts to reshape Florida’s government, promising savings and efficiency while targeting areas he views as misaligned with the state’s priorities.