The Congressional DOGE Caucus is led by Rep. Aaron Bean. (House of Representatives/Getty)
GOP Assemblymen Alex Sauickie and Christopher DePhillips recently introduced Resolution 213 to create the NJ Delegation on Government Efficiency within the Treasury Department.
Sauickie quoted former President Ronald Reagan’s 1985 retort that "government is like a baby – an alimentary canal with a big appetite at one end and no responsibility at the other."
"Except babies, if raised and disciplined rightly, grow into adults who usually become productive members of society. Those adopting our state budgets show no such discipline," Sauickie said, adding that it is time for "grownups to take responsibility and say ‘no’" to reckless spending.
Some Trenton lawmakers have painted New Jersey’s financial outlook as a "fiscal cliff," and DePhillips blamed outgoing Gov. Phil Murphy for claiming he inherited the problem from Republican Gov. Chris Christie.
"Taxpayers want accountability for how their hard-earned money is spent," DePhillips said.
He also called on Murphy to "stop fighting Trump" and lower New Jersey’s business taxes before the third-founded state in the union "loses out" on the potential upswing of the new administration.
Republican state Sen. Joe Pennacchio added in a recent Fox News Digital interview that he would be forming a DOGE committee in the state legislature.
"We're mirroring what the federal government and what [Musk is] doing," said Pennacchio.
TOP DOGE LAWMAKER SAYS TRUMP ALREADY RACKING UP WINS
The St. Louis, Missouri, skyline along the Mississippi River (Getty)
It would investigate fraud claims, inefficient use of tax dollars, and the use of AI, according to FOX-7.
In Missouri, Republican state Rep. Ben Baker told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that Missourians believe the state government is not as efficient or responsive as it should be.
"We want to look into that," said Baker.
Baker recently announced he was named to lead the state’s new DOGE Standing Committee, adding his work will "align with federal efforts."
In New Hampshire, newly-inaugurated Gov. Kelly Ayotte’s first executive order created a 15-member Commission on Government Efficiency (COGE).
"COGE will make us smarter than ever before when it comes to saving taxpayer dollars and finding better ways to serve the people of our state," she said in her inaugural address.
It will be led by former Gov. Craig Benson and businessman Andy Crews.
North Carolina also sought to get in on the DOGE trend.
Republican House Speaker Destin Hall unveiled the new NC Select Committee on Government Efficiency.
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Cape Hatteras, North Carolina (Reuters)
State Reps. Keith Kidwell and John Torbett, both Republicans, will lead the initiative, looking into waste, duplication, mismanagement and constitutional violations.
"As the new Trump administration rightfully takes aim at Washington D.C.’s wasteful spending and inefficient bureaucracy, it is time for us in Raleigh to do the same," Kidwell said in a statement.
Bean, the U.S. House’s DOGE leader, further remarked on the collective efforts:
"It’s exciting to see states pick up the DOGE baton, and I applaud their efforts to improve government efficiency and stop the abuse of taxpayer dollars."
Some in Congress, however, have cast doubt on DOGE. Rep. Seth Magaziner, D-R.I., said at an anti-DOGE rally that some of the actions at the federal level are "completely illegal."
Charles Creitz is a reporter for Fox News Digital.
He joined Fox News in 2013 as a writer and production assistant.
Charles covers media, politics and culture for Fox News Digital.
Charles is a Pennsylvania native and graduated from Temple University with a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism. Story tips can be sent to charles.creitz@fox.com.
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