As the U.S. economy sputters under the weight of rising inflation, ballooning federal debt, and a dangerously high reliance on government spending to prop up GDP, a growing number of policy experts are sounding the alarm. Many say it’s no longer enough to just focus on fixing Washington, D.C.—they’re calling for bold, decentralized action: a Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in every state.
The idea isn’t theoretical. It’s modeled after the national DOGE initiative, championed by Elon Musk and widely credited with exposing rampant waste and mismanagement in federal agencies. But now, as economic pressure continues to mount, thought leaders are urging governors and legislators across the country to adopt similar watchdog programs at the state level.
“This is about survival,” says investor and author Lori Greymont. “As we’ve watched the egregious waste, fraud, and abuse uncovered by DOGE under the leadership of Elon Musk, it’s become clear that we need the same strategy applied at the state level, in all 50 states across the country.”
An economy teetering on the brink
The case for reform is rooted in sobering financial realities. The U.S. national debt now exceeds $36 trillion. Interest payments on that debt are projected to surpass the entire annual military budget. And despite generating roughly $4 trillion in revenue, the federal government spends more than it brings in—an unsustainable delta that has many economists fearing a coming reckoning.
“Currently, the revenue needed to run our federal government is about $7 trillion dollars per year, but we only take in about $4 trillion dollars per year,” says economic expert and Newsmax columnist Dr. David Phelps. “Government spending is out of control and getting worse by the day, so if we don’t get this under control soon, we may soon end up in a situation we can’t recover from.”
Experts warn that the same fiscal chaos brewing in Washington is already infecting state governments—many of which are similarly plagued by bloated budgets, wasteful grant programs, and politically motivated spending.
A framework for reform
Cliff Maloney, CEO of Citizens Alliance and a vocal advocate for limited government, believes state-level DOGEs could be the missing link in restoring financial sanity across America.
“One of the biggest wins DOGE has delivered so far is shining a massive spotlight on waste, fraud, and abuse at the Department of Education,” Maloney explains. “For years, conservatives have talked about shrinking the DOE or eliminating it altogether—but DOGE is actually doing the work.”
According to Maloney, that same energy and effectiveness must now be directed inward—toward the statehouses.
“The waste isn’t just in D.C. The truth is, your average state government is just as bloated and corrupt as the federal government,” he says. “While national DOGE is targeting federal agencies, we need state-level DOGEs to audit every dollar, root out local corruption, and hold state bureaucrats accountable.”
Maloney argues that by deploying DOGEs at the state level, local officials can take faster, more targeted action to eliminate inefficiencies in public education, transportation, healthcare, and even election systems.
“States are where most of the real action happens,” Maloney adds. “So if you care about liberty and limited government, you can’t ignore the statehouse. State-level DOGEs ensure the America First agenda doesn’t stop at the border of Washington—it goes all the way to your backyard.”
How it would work
Unlike the sprawling federal bureaucracy, state-level DOGEs could operate with leaner staff and clearer mandates—focused on auditing, oversight, and enforcement.
“First, state-level DOGEs should audit department spending—line by line,” Maloney advises. “That means diving into where the money is going, who’s receiving contracts, and how much taxpayer money is tied up in administrative bloat.”
He also recommends prioritizing education spending, COVID-era funds, and DEI programs that may be diverting money from more essential services. Compliance with election laws should also be a top priority.
“They need the power to recommend layoffs, reforms, and even criminal referrals where necessary,” Maloney says.
While establishing DOGEs in all 50 states would be an enormous undertaking, proponents argue that much of the groundwork has already been laid by Musk’s federal-level DOGE model.
Greymont echoes that point, saying “We can use the framework already built under Musk to help to get things up and running faster.”
Making it political—and personal
Rolling out DOGE programs at the state level won’t be easy. entrenched political interests will fight to preserve the status quo, and many citizens remain unaware of how badly mismanaged their state’s finances really are.
Greymont says that the public must be educated on the economic danger of inaction. “This is the part of the movie where the hero is forced to make a hail mary play to save the day by taking massive action,” she says. “But I’m not sure the American public has what it takes today.”
The call to action
For Maloney, the path forward is simple—even if it’s not easy.
“This is simple: voters have to demand it,” he says. “The same way we built the PA CHASE from scratch and chased over 500,000 ballots to win Pennsylvania for Trump, we now need patriots at the local level to push their governors and legislators to create state-level DOGEs.”
As inflation continues to eat away at household budgets, and government debt inches closer to a point of no return, the idea of holding every tax dollar accountable is beginning to gain traction. Whether that momentum translates into real change will depend on the willingness of states to follow the DOGE model—and the determination of citizens to demand it.