First State ADOPTS Trump DOGE Model

North Carolina becomes the first state to successfully pass legislation creating its own version of the federal Department of Government Efficiency, with bipartisan support that could override any gubernatorial veto.

Story Highlights

North Carolina’s DAVE Act passes legislature with overwhelming bipartisan support (91-23 House, 47-2 Senate)
State Auditor Dave Boliek gains new authority to scrutinize wasteful spending and recommend efficiency improvements
Bill awaits Governor Josh Stein’s signature but veto-proof margins ensure likely implementation
State agencies must justify their existence and explain unfilled positions by October 2025
Initiative represents first major state-level adoption of Trump administration’s federal DOGE model

Bipartisan Victory Signals Broad Support for Government Reform

The Division of Accountability, Value, and Efficiency Act sailed through both chambers of the North Carolina legislature with remarkable bipartisan backing. House Bill 125 secured a decisive 91-23 victory in the House and an overwhelming 47-2 margin in the Senate, demonstrating that fiscal responsibility transcends party lines when taxpayers demand accountability from their government.

North Carolina auditor excited for 'real effect' of state-level DOGE: 'Keeping government accountable' https://t.co/ATVk25mDdf

— Fox News (@FoxNews) August 3, 2025

State Auditor Dave Boliek expressed enthusiasm for the initiative’s potential to deliver real results for North Carolina taxpayers. The legislation empowers his office to conduct comprehensive efficiency audits using modern tools, including artificial intelligence, to identify wasteful spending and redundant operations across state agencies.

Accountability Measures Target Bureaucratic Waste

The DAVE Act requires all state agencies to submit detailed reports by October 1, 2025, justifying their operations and explaining any unfilled positions. This transparency requirement addresses a longstanding conservative concern about government agencies that continue requesting funding for vacant positions while taxpayers foot the bill for phantom employees.

Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger, who sponsored the legislation, emphasized important safeguards built into the bill. The auditor cannot directly terminate employees but instead provides data-driven recommendations to the legislature, preserving constitutional separation of powers while ensuring elected representatives make final decisions about government workforce changes.

Federal DOGE Model Inspires State-Level Reform

North Carolina’s initiative directly follows the successful federal Department of Government Efficiency established under President Trump’s administration. The federal DOGE demonstrated that systematic government reform could yield significant taxpayer savings through strategic workforce reductions and agency consolidations, proving that bloated bureaucracy was not an inevitable feature of American governance.

The timing proves fortuitous as Trump returns to the White House with renewed focus on government efficiency. North Carolina’s proactive approach positions the state as a laboratory for conservative governance principles, showing how state-level reforms can complement federal efforts to restore fiscal sanity to American government.

Governor’s Decision Faces Veto-Proof Reality

Governor Josh Stein now holds the pen that will either embrace or resist this bipartisan call for government accountability. However, the overwhelming legislative margins make any potential veto largely symbolic, as Republicans and Democrats who supported the measure can easily override gubernatorial opposition.

The broad support reflects growing taxpayer frustration with government inefficiency that transcended the previous administration’s wasteful spending habits. North Carolina voters, like Americans nationwide, have grown weary of bureaucratic bloat that consumes tax dollars without delivering proportional value to hardworking families struggling with inflation and economic uncertainty.