4 ways your state can embrace DOGE principles
The Department of Government Efficiency is making fiscal responsibility cool.
With some polls showing that 72% of Americans support its mission, there is an excellent opportunity to advance the principles of limited government and careful stewardship of taxpayer dollars.
But this energy shouldn’t be limited only to the federal government. There’s plenty of waste, fraud, and abuse to tackle at the state level, too.
Here’s how states can embrace the principles of DOGE by enacting reforms that cut red tape, enhance transparency, and expand access to essential services:
1. Rein in overregulation with a REINS Act
Too often, unelected bureaucrats impose costly regulations that stifle businesses and entrepreneurs.
In an effort to reduce the federal bureaucracy and restore power to elected lawmakers, U.S. Sen. Rand Paul and U.S. Rep. Kat Cammack have introduced the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny, or REINS Act. This bill would require all major rules — those with an annual cost of $100 million or more — to be approved by Congress before taking effect.
Several states, including Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Utah, and Wisconsin, have enacted state-level REINS Acts to curb the power of unelected bureaucrats. States like Georgia and Kentucky are currently working hard to return power to elected leaders through similar bills.
This vital reform, which generally requires that the state legislature approve any new regulation with an economic impact exceeding $1 million over five years, restores checks and balances, preventing agencies from unduly burdening citizens with red tape.
2. Increase transparency on federal guidance
To fight overregulation, we first need agencies to be transparent and open about the regulations they enforce.
State agencies frequently receive federal guidance documents — interpretive memos, policy statements, circulars, and others — that dictate how businesses and individuals operate. These documents are not legally binding and are issued without public input or legislative oversight. Yet, they often have the force of law.
To ensure accountability, states should require full transparency and disclosure of federal guidance documents they receive from federal agencies. These records should be housed in a centralized, statewide database or on state agency websites, allowing policymakers and the public to understand their influence.
3. Remove certificate-of-need laws
Health care is absurdly expensive. One big reason for this is the effect of certificate-of-need laws.
Many states still impose this outdated system, which artificially restricts the supply of health care services.
These laws require medical providers to obtain government approval before expanding facilities or offering new services — limiting competition and driving up costs.
Making matters worse is the so-called competitor’s veto, which exists in many states and allows existing, large health care providers to block new services or facility expansion.
By eliminating these unnecessary barriers, states can increase access to care, lower prices, and encourage innovation in the health care sector.
4. Delete outdated, obsolete regulations
Every state has tens of thousands of regulations on the books — many of which are outdated, unenforced, or irrelevant, given social and technological advancements.
Keeping these unnecessary rules in place gives aggressive bureaucrats opportunities to overextend their power and creates confusion for citizens and businesses. States should mandate regular reviews of existing regulations, repealing those that no longer serve a purpose to streamline compliance and foster a more dynamic economic environment.
You can help capture DOGE’s momentum for fiscal responsibility to enact state-level reforms that bring more economic freedom. Visit AFP’s state chapter page to see how you can help pass good policy in your state.
