NJ Version Of Elon Musk’s DOGE Sparks Controversy

A proposed bill that focuses on government efficiency and regulation has New Jersey advocates concerned that “essential” state-run programs will be gutted, comparing it to Elon Musk’s short-lived Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under President Trump.

The bill was introduced by Senate President Nicholas P. Scutari (D-Union). It calls for the establishment of a "Commission on Efficiency and Regulatory Review" in the NJ Office of Administrative Law.

Bill S4373 says the Commission’s purpose is to “engage in the regular review of certain Executive Orders and Executive Branch agency rules and regulations, in order to assess the economic impacts of those orders, rules, and regulations and promote and ensure efficiency in the implementation and enforcement thereof.”

In other words, the 13-person Commission, consisting of one member of the public and 12 designated officials, will perform cost-benefit analyses on several New Jersey department programs. It would then make recommendations to the Governor on which programs and regulations to amend, revoke, or repeal.

The bill also would amend the state’s “Administrative Procedure Act,” changing the way state agencies create rules and regulations. According to the bill, these agencies would need to incorporate available science, data, and studies with any regulation/rule proposal, along with a cost-benefit analysis and socio-economic impact statement, to name a few requirements.

The bill has five Senate votes in favor so far, but still needs to be presented to the entire Senate and Assembly before being approved by Governor Phil Murphy.

Patch has reached out to Scutari for comment on the bill, but has not received a response yet.

Several New Jersey advocacy groups have condemned Bill S4373, saying it mirrors Trump and Musk’s DOGE and will “eviscerate regulations which are meant to protect the welfare of families across the state.”

“This bill will gut New Jersey’s long-standing regulatory process, create endless delays for passing legislation, set up for massive deregulation, and, most dangerously, impose a new economic cost-benefit analysis for any new regulations,” an Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions (ANJEC) statement read. “If passed, this dangerous bill could prevent agencies from protecting children from drinking radioactive water in public schools, implementing bridge inspections to keep our commuters safe, updating building codes to protect families from electric fires, and more.”

Other advocacy groups alongside ANJEC organized a protest outside the State House Annex in Trenton on Thursday. Participating organizations include the New Jersey Working Families Party, the Pinelands Alliance, the New Jersey Policy Perspective, the New Jersey League of Conservation, and the Sierra Club.

The bill comes as Governor-Elect Mikie Sherrill launched her own plan for streamlining government efficiency.

Earlier this month, Sherrill designated Kellie Doucette, her transitional team’s executive director, to the role of Chief Operating Officer, the first of its kind in New Jersey.

Doucette’s role will be to “focus on creating and driving efficient systems across state government to save New Jerseyans time and money.”

“Governor-elect Sherrill’s vision for a more efficient, transparent, and innovative government is exactly what New Jersey needs right now,” said Doucette. “I’m excited to focus everything we do on results and customer service—cutting red tape, breaking down silos, and ensuring New Jersey’s public servants have the resources they need to make New Jersey stronger and more affordable.”

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