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Governor DeSantis announces state DOGE task force focused on 'government efficiency'

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Updated  February 24, 2025 11:26am EST
Tampa
FOX 13 News

The Brief

    • Gov. Ron DeSantis announced a state DOGE task force on Monday at a news conference in Tampa.
    • The governor is looking to audit various state and local operations across Florida to "eliminate bureaucratic bloat."
    • DeSantis also praised the efforts of the Trump Administration's Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk.

TAMPA, Fla. - Gov. Ron DeSantis announced a new "comprehensive initiative" on Monday focused on government efficiency in Florida while praising the efforts of DOGE at the federal level.

At a news conference in Tampa on Monday morning, the governor laid out what he called a "multipronged approach to eliminate bureaucratic bloat."

What will Florida's DOGE task force do?

Big picture view:

DeSantis says the task force will work over the next year to review efficiency across Florida's government, similar to the Trump Administration's Department of Government Efficiency, led by billionaire businessman Elon Musk.

On Monday, the governor mentioned eliminating hundreds of state government positions, expanding the use of artificial intelligence for such purposes as reviewing state operations and contracts, and making sure Florida's colleges and universities are "good stewards" of tax dollars.

Gov. Ron DeSantis spoke on Monday at a news conference in Tampa.

Gov. Ron DeSantis spoke on Monday at a news conference in Tampa.

DeSantis is also proposing a "deep dive" into local government spending, asking the Florida Legislature to give the DOGE task force the power to force city and county governments to comply with any state audits.

The governor says state officials have already taken some measures ahead of the upcoming legislative session, including earmarking more than 70 state boards and commissions for abolition.

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What they're saying:

"I'm excited about this effort to take some of what we've seen in Washington that they're doing with Elon Musk and apply it to Florida," DeSantis said.

The governor also touted what he claims is already a relatively efficient state government operation, calling on the federal government to take additional measures on spending.

"We've achieved victories in Florida, but we need to start achieving those victories up there," DeSantis said.

The other side:

At the federal level, DOGE faces sharp criticism from Democratic leaders for its widespread job cuts, including the termination of several USDA employees that were working to combat bird flu – something the Trump Administration has said it's working to rectify.

A lawsuit has also been filed against Elon Musk’s email threat to federal employees that was relayed over the weekend demanding that employees explain their accomplishments or risk being fired.

RELATED: Elon Musk email to federal employees targeted in lawsuit

The Associated Press has confirmed, or learned via sources, thousands of firings since Trump took office on Jan. 20. No official figure has been released, although DOGE currently estimates its savings at around $55 billion.

What's next:

Florida's legislative session begins next Tuesday, March 4, during which state lawmakers will consider the governor's proposals that require legislative support in order to be enacted.

The Source: This story was written using information from a news conference on Monday, Feb. 24, 2025, in Tampa.

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