Gov. DeSantis announced a one-year DOGE Task Force: Local Government Will Come Under Scrutiny

(February 24, 2025) Gov. DeSantis announced a one-year DOGE Task Force to identify cost-saving measures and reduce the number of Florida state government positions in the next budget. However, these cuts will not include law enforcement or corrections staff. 

This initiative is part of DeSantis’ broader effort to streamline government spending at both the state and local levels, drawing inspiration from Elon Musk’s cost-cutting approach in Washington. “We were DOGE before DOGE was cool,” DeSantis said in Tampa, referencing Florida’s ongoing efforts to make state operations as “lean and efficient as possible.” However, he acknowledged there is still more to be done.

As part of these efforts, DeSantis plans to cut 740 net state government positions while eliminating 70 state boards and commissions along with 900 associated positions, pending legislative approval. “There are hundreds of these entities that people don’t even know exist, but they’re there,” he noted. The DOGE Task Force will also audit state agencies using artificial intelligence, deploying IT specialists to review contracts and eliminate those that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion policies.

Local government budgets will also come under scrutiny, as DeSantis argues they have “ballooned” in recent years, often without taxpayer input. The task force will analyze local government spending by reviewing publicly available budget records, and DeSantis hopes to gain legislative approval to require local governments to comply with state oversight. “DOGE teams can visit counties, conduct audits, and use AI,” he said. “I think that would be really beneficial.”

In addition, DeSantis plans to return nearly $1 billion in unspent federal funds from the Department of Children and Families and the Department of Transportation, arguing that these funds, allocated under Biden administration initiatives, are tied to policies he opposes. He sees this move as supporting federal cost-cutting efforts and reducing national debt.

State Board of Administration Director Chris Spencer reinforced DeSantis’ stance, praising Florida’s strong credit rating and aggressive debt repayment strategy while criticizing Washington’s rising debt levels. He noted that many state boards have not convened in years and emphasized the role of AI in reviewing contracts.

Higher education spending is another target of DeSantis’ cost-cutting plan. He has called for an independent audit of the State University System to ensure institutions are managing tax dollars responsibly—a process he refers to as “DOGE-ing” the system. Course offerings will be reviewed to remove what he describes as ideological content, and administrative costs will be scrutinized for potential cuts.

Florida Department of Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. supports these measures, pledging an audit to ensure university administrators remain focused on efficiency and proper resource allocation.

Eliminate Bureaucracy

• Florida will abolish an additional 70 boards and commissions this year.

Review Colleges and Universities

• Florida will conduct a deep dive into all facets of college and university operations and spending and make recommendations to the Board of Governors and State Board of Education to eliminate any wasteful spending.

Further Examine State Agencies

• Florida will utilize AI to supplement ongoing efforts to review operations at our state agencies and identify more ways to cut unnecessary spending and eliminate bureaucracy.

Audit Local Governments

• State task force will look into local government expenditures by utilizing publicly available county and municipal spending records to expose bloat within local governance.

Return Unused & Surplus Federal Dollars

• Florida will aid DOGE’s federal efforts to save taxpayers’ money by returning unused or surplus federal dollars allocated to the state.

You can read the full press release here.