AUSTIN, Texas — On Wednesday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a new piece of legislation establishing the Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office. This initiative is part of a broader movement among Republican governors to emulate the cost-cutting measures of the Department of Government Efficiency, which drew inspiration from billionaire Elon Musk’s initiatives.
Abbott, during a ceremonial bill signing at the state Capitol, advocated for reducing regulations and implementing stricter standards on new ones, although he refrained from addressing any potential job cuts resembling the controversial steps taken by DOGE. “The regulatory environment in Texas is getting too burdensome,” Abbott remarked. “This measure will ensure a check on the growth of the administrative state in Texas.”
The newly signed law stipulates that courts are not obligated to follow a state agency’s interpretation of its rules during legal disputes.
More than 20 states have embarked on similar DOGE-style initiatives to varying extents, with many introducing legislation to form DOGE offices or establishing legislative committees. Texas, having implemented both approaches, created a DOGE legislative committee in January. This committee has primarily focused on auditing and modernizing outdated technology within state agencies.
Meanwhile, the governors of Montana, Oklahoma, Iowa, New Hampshire, Florida, and Louisiana have enacted executive orders to form their state DOGE departments.
Contrarily, leaders of Texas’s employee union criticized the bill for adding bureaucracy instead of reducing it. Myko Gedutis, vice president of the Texas State Employees Union, stated, “The definition of ‘efficiency’ is being stretched beyond recognition.”
Abbott’s signing occurred just days after national protests emerged against Musk’s DOGE-related job cuts across federal agencies. These actions have sparked numerous court battles and faced backlash for removing essential services.
In Wisconsin, Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, who formed a bipartisan DOGE committee, emphasized its goal to root out government fraud and waste. Texas’s committee, comprising eight Republicans and five Democrats, has prioritized auditing state agencies.
Additionally, more than 10 states, including Georgia, Connecticut, and Arizona, have merely introduced related bills. For instance, the “Red Tape Rollback Act of 2025” in Georgia would necessitate state agencies to assess the economic impact of their rules and regulations.