States Follow Musk’s Lead With Bold DOGE-Like Initiatives

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy’s DOGE initiative, which aims to overhaul federal spending, is already inspiring a wave of reform at the state level. Governors across the country are wasting no time launching their own DOGE-like efficiency programs, signaling a dramatic shift in how states manage their budgets. With President-elect Donald Trump preparing for his second term, state leaders appear to be racing to prove they can adopt the lean, streamlined governance model Musk and Ramaswamy are promoting.

Iowa's DOGE Initiative: Leading the Charge

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds (R) made headlines this week when she officially announced Iowa’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in her Tuesday address to lawmakers. The initiative aims to root out wasteful spending and make state and local government more efficient.

“I like to say that we were doing DOGE before DOGE was a thing,” Reynolds stated. “And to build on our success, I’m launching our own state DOGE to find even greater savings and efficiencies.”

Reynolds appointed Emily Schmitt, general counsel of Sukup Manufacturing, to lead the effort. The appointment suggests a private-sector approach to streamlining government operations—something Musk and Ramaswamy have long advocated for at the federal level.

New Hampshire’s “COGE” Plan: A Manufacturing Mindset for Government

New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte (R) isn’t sitting idle either. In her inauguration speech last week, she introduced plans for a Commission on Government Efficiency (COGE) designed to dramatically reduce state spending and apply business-minded efficiency principles to governance.

“We need to make sure the government is operating more like the lean process in manufacturing, where waste is eliminated at each step for a better result,” Ayotte said.

She acknowledged that politicians naturally struggle to stop spending, but her solution is to institutionalize fiscal discipline through COGE.

“I know there is nothing harder than asking politicians not to spend money. So today, I’m announcing the creation of the Commission on Government Efficiency—or as I like to call it, COGE.”

Ayotte’s approach reflects a growing conservative push to apply private-sector efficiency principles to bloated government bureaucracies.

Louisiana and Wisconsin Join the Movement

Other states aren’t waiting for Washington, either. In December, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry (R) issued an executive order launching a new government efficiency body, naming oil and gas executive Steve Orlando as the state’s first Financial Responsibility Czar.

Meanwhile, in Wisconsin, State Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R) spearheaded the creation of a Governmental Oversight, Accountability, and Transparency Committee (GOAT)—a DOGE-inspired initiative to audit government spending and trim the fat.

“I think that we can look at a lot of ideas and try to find ways to make the government do a better job than we currently are,” Vos told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

“I’m super excited that we’re going to now kind of focus on not just how we layer more things on, but how we make the things that we already have work better.”

Trump’s Federal DOGE: Slashing $2 Trillion in Waste?

The state-level moves mirror Trump’s federal DOGE initiative, which aims to cut up to $2 trillion in wasteful spending. Last November, Trump appointed Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to co-lead the effort, promising a bold restructuring of federal agencies.

“Together, these two wonderful Americans will pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies—essential to the ‘Save America’ Movement,” Trump wrote in a statement.

Musk has been vocal about his goal of slashing 30% of federal spending, while Ramaswamy has floated a controversial idea: forcing federal employees back to the office or eliminating their positions entirely—a move that could cut the federal workforce in half.

The Bigger Picture: Will States Follow Through?

While these announcements sound promising, the real question remains: Will states actually follow through, or is this just political theater?

For years, politicians have talked about eliminating wasteful spending, but the federal budget continues to balloon. The $34 trillion national debt looms larger than ever, and state governments aren’t much better off. If these state DOGE initiatives succeed, they could provide a blueprint for fiscal responsibility nationwide.

But if history is any indication, bureaucracies fight back hard against efficiency efforts. Cutting government waste means taking on entrenched interests, unionized bureaucrats, and legacy programs that refuse to die. The battle ahead won’t be easy.

What You Can Do to Protect Yourself

Government waste isn’t just a political issue—it’s a direct threat to your financial stability. Bloated budgets lead to higher taxes, inflation, and economic instability. If you want to protect your money from reckless government spending, you need a plan.

I’ve put together a free guide: “7 Steps to Protect Your Account from Bank Failure.” It’s a must-read in today’s uncertain economy. Download it here.

And if you want real-time insights on the financial risks ahead, join my Inner Circle for just $19.95/month. Get exclusive reports and strategies to safeguard your assets. Sign up here.

The government isn’t going to fix itself. It’s time to take control of your financial future.