LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) – Governor Greg Abbott has signed a bill creating the Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office, a new agency inspired by the federal Department of Government Efficiency, also known as DOGE.
The law, passed as Senate Bill 14 during the 89th Legislative Session, comes just weeks after protests broke out nationwide, criticizing billionaire Elon Musk’s role in the federal DOGE program. That federal department has come under fire for deep cuts to social programs across the country.
Governor Abbott, in a statement, said the goal of the new state office is to “make government more efficient and less costly.”
U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar responded to the new law, saying he had limited details but urged caution. He said Texas should avoid following the federal path, where millions in funds were cut.
“When we did it in the 90s, we kept the core business — healthcare, education, took care of all the services — but we just made it more efficient,” Cuellar said. “I hope they don’t cut services like they’re doing in Washington.”
Cuellar added that the aim should be to improve services for people, not reduce help for those in need. He warned that if Texas copies the federal cuts, “it won’t be good.”
One of the co-authors of the bill is Rep. Don McLaughlin, who represents District 80 in South Texas.
State Senator Judith Zaffirini, who voted for the bill, explained why she supported it in the statement below:
I voted for Senate Bill 14 because I believe state government should be efficient, responsive, accountable and transparent. The new Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office—unofficially known as the Texas Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—has the potential to improve how agencies serve Texans while saving taxpayer dollars.
Cognizant it will be subject to Sunset review in 2037, we must remain vigilant to ensure these efforts don’t lead to unnecessary cuts to essential services on which our communities rely.
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