AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, inspired by government efficiency, is aiming to create a bill aimed at reducing state regulations on Wednesday, and joining other Republican governors who have pledged their own version of billionaire Elon Musk’s cost-cutting group.
When establishing a Texas regulatory efficiency office, Abbott welcomed reduction regulations and posted stricter standards in new standards. He didn’t mention during the ritual bill signed at the Capitol, which wanted to cut jobs like Doge, which split the country.
“The regulatory environment in Texas is becoming too much of a burden,” Abbott said. “We’ll check the growth of Texas’ administrative state.”
The law also states that courts do not need to comply with the interpretation of rules or regulations in legal issues by state agencies.
Over 20 states have begun Doge-style efforts to varying degrees. Most people do so by introducing legislation to create Doge Office or by establishing their own legislative committees. Some, such as Texas, do both. In January, Texas lawmakers established the Doge Legislative Committee, which has been working to audit and modernize the outdated technology of state agencies.
The governor of Montana, Oklahoma, Iowa, New Hampshire, Florida and Louisiana have issued executive orders to establish the state’s DOGE division.
In Texas, leaders from the state’s employee union rejected the bill, adding a layer of bureaucracy.
“The definition of ‘efficiency’ has grown beyond recognition,” Myko Gedutis, vice president of the Texas Employee Union, said in a statement.
Abbott’s signature comes days after protests around the country appearing against Musk and the thousands of job cuts that Doge has launched across the federal government. The measure has raised challenges for multiple courts and has been criticized for reducing essential services.
In Wisconsin, Republican Rep. Robin Vos, who founded the bipartisan Doge committee, says it’s about removing government fraud and waste. The focus of Texas legislators – where the committee has eight Republicans and five Democrats – was to audit state agencies.
More than 10 states, including Georgia, Connecticut and Arizona, have only implemented bills on the issue. Georgia’s Red Tape Rollback Act of 2025 would require state agencies to confirm the economic impact of rules and regulations.
