SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO/WGN) — Rep. John Cabello, R-Ill., has introduced legislation that would create an Illinois Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to review and audit the state’s spending.
Cabello’s proposed HB1266 would mimic the federal government agency spearheaded by Elon Musk and create an agency that would root out unnecessary or redundant Illinois laws, administrative rules, and state agencies.
“In my time in the State Assembly, I’ve seen our budget just explode. And it’s time to take that idea that they’re doing on the federal side and put it to work here in the state,” Cabello said Saturday on “NewsNation Prime.”
Under Cabello’s proposal, the Illinois DOGE would be created under the existing office of the auditor general and would be led by a board of directors — consisting of two Democrats and two Republicans — appointed by the General Assembly. The agency would be allowed to recruit members who are experts in certain fields or with certain experience who serve without taxpayer compensation.
Cabello’s proposal, he argues, would bring Illinois closer to a truly balanced budget — something the state hasn’t seen since 2002.
He believes requiring employees to return to in-person work would improve services and efficiency. While some critics worry that workforce reductions could slow government operations, Cabello insists that accountability and efficiency should take priority.
Illinois is one of more than a dozen states suing the Trump administration over the federal DOGE agency, for giving it access to Treasury Department data.
A federal judge ordered that two Musk allies have “read-only” access to Treasury Department payment systems, but no one else will get access for now, including Musk himself.
The ruling comes in a lawsuit filed by federal workers unions trying to stop the billionaire’s DOGE from following through on what they call a massive privacy invasion.
President Donald Trump tapped Musk, the world’s richest man, to shrink the size of the U.S. government.
NewsNation’s Damita Menezes and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
