RALEIGH, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — What is being described as a state-level “DOGE” committee will be made of 17 North Carolina state representatives, including 11 Republicans and six Democrats.
One of those Democrats is State Rep. Phil Rubin from Wake County. Rubin told Queen City News he does not want to replicate the efficiency work that is being carried out by the Elon Musk-led agency in DC, but believes there are plenty of opportunities to make state government more efficient.
“If that’s what we’re going to do, if we’re really going to roll up our sleeves in a bipartisan way and look for ways to make government work better and save the taxpayers money, then I’m excited to help, count me in,” said Rubin.
The House Select Committee on Government Efficiency will be chaired by Gaston County Rep. John Corbett. From the start, he has said he wanted the effort to be bipartisan.
“Too be most effective, most efficient, and operate most expeditiously on behalf of the people of North Carolina, that should be their governing model,” said Corbett.
But House Speaker Destin Hall has branded the committee as a state equivalent to the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency, known for its controversial cuts to federal budgets and staffing.
“This group’s going to be looking at government inefficiencies across state government, looking for things like DEI, other wasteful programs that we can cut out,” Hall said in a video posted to social media.
Echoing Gov. Josh Stein’s call for efficient government during his state of the state, Rubin said he is happy to take part in conversations to see where money can be better spent. However, he made clear he does not support any sort of effort that would resemble DOGE.
“If it’s going to be the kind of slash-and-burn stuff that’s gone on in DC, I don’t think that’s what North Carolinians want, and I don’t think that it’s going to benefit the state,” said Rubin.
No first meeting date has been set, but Rubin expects it to happen within the next few weeks.
