Several North Carolina officials testified before state lawmakers inquiring about government waste and fraud, mirroring the Trump administration’s quest for greater government transparency through the Department of Government Efficiency.
A state House oversight committee held its first of a “series of hearings” to evaluate if agencies are “efficient,” according to Republican state House Majority Leader Brenden Jones.
“That’s why we’re here, to oversee, to ask what’s working and what’s not working,” Jones said, according to NCNewsline. “We want to know if North Carolinians are getting what they pay for.”
The hearing included testimony from three appointees of Gov. Josh Stein (D-NC), two appointees of former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, and the state’s newly elected Republican treasurer.
In a move similar to what the Trump administration has done, North Carolina Republicans honed in on concerns of diversity, equity, and inclusion policies implemented within the state government.
Republican state Rep. Brian Echevarria questioned Department of Revenue Director McKinley Wooten Jr. about the agency’s mission statement that included a section about “diversity and inclusion.” McKinley testified that this was from the previous administration and would “not be included” in the department’s new strategic plan.
He stated that there were “DEI practices that were encouraged” from the state’s human resources office but that the Department of Revenue did not have a specific DEI program.
Republican State Treasurer Brad Briner and Republican State Auditor Dave Boliek pledged during the hearing that they would be getting rid of all DEI policies.
Lawmakers also questioned Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner Wayne Goodwin, a Democrat, who, just a day ago, announced his resignation. Lawmakers focused on the long wait lines at the Department of Motor Vehicles, but Goodwin suggested that the government should invest more money into updating technology and opening more offices.
“So obviously, everyone’s excited about DOGE,” Echevarria said, per WRAL. “Well, most people. However, we have some people not excited about eliminating fraud, saving taxpayer money and that sort of thing.”
Among those lacking enthusiasm is Democratic Rep. Zack Hawkins, who said constituents in his districts have lost their jobs due to DOGE ending federal grants to nonprofit organizations and companies.
“I don’t know anybody who’s excited about DOGE,” Hawkins said.
There is also concern about how the Trump administration’s decision to cut billions of dollars in medical and scientific research grants from the National Institutes of Health could affect educational institutions such as Duke University.
DOGE: WHICH STATES ARE TRYING SIMILAR EFFORTS TO FEDERAL INITIATIVE
The university is one of the country’s biggest recipients of NIH research funding, and it’s the second-largest private employer in the state.
At least six other states have launched their own version of DOGE at the state level, including Georgia, Missouri, New Hampshire, Iowa, Oklahoma, and Florida.