Lawmakers propose a state commission modeled after the federal “DOGE” initiative to cut spending and streamline government, but critics call it political theater.
COLUMBIA, S.C. โ South Carolina lawmakers are considering a new government oversight commission to review state government efficiency and identify areas for reducing or restructuring state spending.
The proposed commission is modeled after a federal cost-cutting initiative, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), created by President Donald Trump and overseen by billionaire Elon Musk.ย
In a subcommittee meeting Thursday, the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Stephen Goldfinch, dubbed it the “DOGE Bill.”
“What you will find at the state level is overburdensome regulations, duplicative regulations, regulations that are hurting our businesses and our families and our friends here in South Carolina,” said Sen. Goldfinch, R-Georgetown. “I think we can really make some hay when it comes to regulation and regulatory reform.”
The commission would consist of 10 members appointed by the House, Senate, governor, and Department of Administration. Its members could not be lawmakers. The commission would assess state spending to determine potential spending cuts, consolidations, or regulatory streamlining.
Goldfinch said the federal governmentโs efficiency efforts inspired him, and he believes the state commission could eliminate unnecessary regulations and government jobs.
“I think there is some potential. I mean, I can think of 18 or 20 jobs that I’d like to go right now,” Goldfinch said. “There’s a tendency to over bloat agencies with lawyers. And when you put a bunch of lawyers in agencies, the agency has a tendency to take cases against their constituents.”
A companion bill in the House of Representatives proposes a similar commission.ย
Republican lawmakers in both chambers argue the initiative would help identify wasteful government spending and report findings to the General Assembly.
However, some Democrats have criticized the proposal, arguing that Republicansโwho control both legislative chambersโalready oversee state financial management.
“They’re talking about creating a department for efficiency oversight for the very departments they’ve been in control over for 22 years,” said Rep. Roger Kirby. “We’re creating another agency to do things. We’ve already gotten multiple layers of agencies already and oversight already in place. Again, it’s political optics, and it just seems to a lot of us that this is just simply theater.”
The Senate bill is currently headed to the full Finance Committee. If approved, the efficiency commission’s report, due in October, would not impact the budget until the next budget cycle.
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