North Dakota House lawmakers approve state DOGE task force

A proposal to establish a North Dakota version of the federal Department of Government Efficiency advanced in the House Monday.

House Bill 1442, supported with an 88-2 vote, would create a new task force of legislators and executive branch officials to review state programs and recommend areas to cut costs.

“This task force is the first of its kind in North Dakota for at least 40 years and is probably long overdue,” said Rep. Jim Kasper, R-Fargo.

The task force would be required to meet at least quarterly to review and analyze budgets and reports from executive branch agencies, boards and commissions and the state Supreme Court. The group would look for ways to eliminate duplication, increase efficiency and find areas for partnerships with private industry. The task force also could request audits from the Office of the State Auditor or an independent firm.

A legislator appointed by the governor would lead the nine-member task force. Other members would be the state’s chief information officer, director of the Office of Management and Budget, chief operating officer for the governor, a statewide elected official appointed by the governor, as well as two members of the House and two members of the Senate appointed by the majority leaders. There is no requirement for the minority party to be represented. Members would serve two-year terms.

No one testified against the bill. 

Prime sponsor Rep. Nathan Toman, R-Mandan, said during a committee hearing that his proposal is not directly related to the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency. Toman said the idea grew out of his experience on legislative committees and wanting to look for ways to reduce unnecessary duplication.

There is no fiscal note attached to the bill estimating the cost of it. During committee discussion, Rep. Austen Schauer, R-West Fargo, asked if the State Auditor’s Office would need more staff to conduct the audits.

“I find it interesting that to be able to find efficiencies in government, we will need to grow government, because these things are not going to be done without the proper staffing,” Schauer said.

State Auditor Josh Gallion, who testified in support of the bill, said he wasn’t sure what the workload would entail. He encouraged lawmakers to get the program started and said the funding could be revisited next session.

The bill would establish the task force through 2031. It now advances to the Senate for further consideration. It contains an emergency clause, which means it could take effect immediately if it gains enough support.

Lawmakers in other red states have announced similar efforts to cut state government this year.