By Michael Vasquez for
The Hechinger Report
.
Broadcast version by Trimmel Gomes for Florida News Connection as part of The Hechinger Report-Public News Service collaboration
In Oklahoma, certain more-affordable universities are being encouraged to decrease their travel expenses and operating costs, merge departments, and lower energy consumption—all aimed at achieving financial savings.
Currently, obtaining a degree from one of these local institutions is quite affordable for students, with costs potentially amounting to $15,000 less annually compared to larger public universities in Oklahoma. These schools, such as Southeastern Oklahoma State University and the University of Central Oklahoma, produce more educators and healthcare professionals than their research-focused counterparts. The alumni from these institutions can take up vital positions within the state.
Nevertheless, policymakers at the state level believe that further efficiencies can still be achieved.
One of the particular sectors being addressed by a newly established government body under a recognizable title is higher education. The aim, as stated by Republican Governor Kevin Stitt, is “to safeguard our Oklahoma lifestyle.”
the first DOGE-OK report
This spring, the Oklahoma Division of Government Efficiency was established around the same time as its similarly named federal counterpart.
numbers among its achievements so far
shifting to automated lawn mowers to cut grass at the state capital, changing to energy-efficient LED lighting and cutting down on state government cell phone bills. The Oklahoma governor’s office did not respond to a request for comment about this effort.
Oklahoma is one of
about a dozen states
That approach mirrors one suggested for the federal DOGE; however, certain states initiated their efforts even prior to the start of the Trump administration. The federal Department of Government Efficiency was set up immediately when President Trump assumed office on January 20th. This department has been pushing significant reductions in both federal expenditures and staffing levels within the government sector without much explanation provided.
As academia turns into a target for President Donald Trump and his followers, Republican state legislators and governors are queuing up: they want to take their swings as well.
Aside from Oklahoma, Florida’s Governor Ron DeSantis
launched FL DOGE in late winter
, with a commitment to examine the operations and expenditures of state universities and colleges. Republicans at the Ohio State Capitol established an Ohio DOGE caucus. Among the initiatives of the Iowa DOGE Task Force was
three main goals
is “further refining workforce and job training programs,” some of which are run through community colleges, and its members include at least two people who work at state universities.
The current political environment represents “an unprecedented attack on higher education,” said Veena Dubal, a law professor at the University of California, Irvine, and general counsel for the American Association of University Professors.
The state-level examination adds to those federal job reductions, which encompass terminations of employees who engage with colleges, intra-departmental funding decreases impacting higher education, and the
shrinking of contracts
This supports research and specific initiatives at colleges and universities. However, some research grants have been discontinued entirely.
The White House
is simultaneously pursuing these spending reductions whilst
using colleges’
diversity efforts
, their approach to combating antisemitism and their
policies about transgender athletes
To compel a series of transformations that extend further than just reducing costs—including regulations regarding student protests and whether individual university departments should face increased oversight.
Higher education, which depends significantly on state funds as well as federal support through student loans, Pell grants, research grants, and workforce development initiatives, anticipates enduring and challenging budget reductions.
“Organizations are acting under the fear of disappearing,” Dubal stated. “They aren’t making carefully considered choices regarding what’s most beneficial for the organization, or for the greater good.”
For example, the Trump administration obtained several commitments from Columbia University due to accusations of antisemitism, threatening to withhold $400 million in federal grants and contracts as pressure. This resulted in university faculty members and labor unions filing lawsuits, arguing that this threatened academic freedom. (It’s worth noting that The Hechinger Report operates independently within Teachers College.) Currently, Harvard is facing a potential review of $9 billion in federal funds for similar reasons related to antisemitism claims, and the number of institutions undergoing comparable examinations continues to rise.
Budget reductions are not unfamiliar territory for institutions of higher learning—when an economic downturn occurs, these entities often become one of the primary areas where state legislators seek budgetary relief, regardless of whether they serve “blue” or “red” constituencies. A contributing factor being that public universities have the potential to offset some of this reduction through hikes in tuition fees.
What DOGE introduces in Washington and statehouses is novel. According to Jeff Selingo, a special advisor to the president at Arizona State University, the DOGE strategy involves implementing robust cost reduction measures that focus on particular programs disliked by certain politicians.
“It’s certainly more focused on politics than on financial matters or policies,” stated Selingo, who has authored multiple books on higher education.
Universities have not met the expectations of some politicians,” he said additionally. “This approach aims to exert a form of control over them.
The strain on Florida’s colleges goes well beyond financial concerns. Governor DeSantis has labeled college campuses as “intellectually stifling atmospheres.” In 2021, state legislators in Florida enacted a law, endorsed by the governor, aimed at addressing this alleged bias through mandatory surveys of faculty members and students at public universities to evaluate if sufficient intellectual variety exists within these institutions.
At New College in Sarasota, DeSantis was at the forefront.
an aggressive cultural overhaul
To reshape the college’s environment and character towards a more politically conservative stance. The governor has pointed to Hillsdale College, a conservative private Christian school in Michigan, as an exemplar.
The faculty and students at New College filed lawsuits. They alleged issues such as academic censorship and an unwelcoming atmosphere for LGBTQ+ students, with numerous individuals transferring out. Eventually, one legal case was dismissed. Following the takeover, the institution introduced new athletic programs.
said
It has drawn an unprecedented number of new and transferring students.
Throughout the United States, Republicans hold power in both legislative chambers and governor’s offices in 23 states, whereas only 15 states are entirely under Democratic control. In these Republican-led areas, establishing a mini-DOGE could amplify their political influence significantly, with minimal scrutiny.
In Florida, “the state DOGE acts as a tool for intimidation,” according to a senior official from a public university speaking to The Hechinger Report. This administrator wished to remain anonymous due to concerns about repercussions and mentioned, “There is simply an overwhelming sense of fear prevailing.”
Near the end of March, university leaders got a message from someone called the “DOGE Team” at the governor’s office. This letter assured them that FL DOGE authorities would conduct an extensive evaluation. It included plans for campus inspections and requested that every college assign a specific person to manage FL DOGE’s continuing inquiries.
The correspondence outlined several potential requests from FL DOGE moving ahead, such as obtaining course codes, descriptions, and syllabuses; comprehensive details about every center set up on campus; along with “closing down and dissolving DEI initiatives and operations, as mandated by legislation.”
The state has refrained from commenting on whether FL DOGE aims to target higher education within the region. Molly Best, who serves as the deputy press secretary, stated that FL DOGE is currently operational. She added that cities and counties are beginning to receive correspondence demanding specific data, with plans for future updates to keep the public informed.
In Florida, DOGE similarly adheres to other interventions in higher education within the state. The appointed Board of Governors, largely selected by the governor, eliminated numerous courses from the core curricula at state universities to align with these regulations.
Stop WOKE Act
In 2022, a new state law came into force. Governor DeSantis was instrumental in promoting this legislation, which aims to prevent the discussion of ideas like systemic racism or sexism in educational settings. As a result, several courses have been eliminated from Florida’s 12 public universities; these include mainly subjects such as sociology, anthropology, and history.
You can’t erase history,” remarked Meadow Swantic, a criminal justice student at Florida Atlantic University—a public college—in her interview conducted on the university’s Boca Raton campus. “Some aspects are rooted in white supremacy, which poses significant issues.
Kayla Collins, another FAU student, mentioned that she has observed some professors exhibiting a liberal bias in class conversations.
I personally experienced this during my history class,” stated Collins, identifying himself as a Republican. “The history class was excellent; however, many politically oriented topics were discussed which seemed out of place since it wasn’t a government or political science course.
Liliana Hogan, who studies political science at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, mentioned that her experiences with her professors’ political views were distinct from others.
“You might hear people say ‘individuals attend universities to become socially aware,’ or something similar, but surprisingly, as someone studying political science, many of my professors lean more towards the right wing than one might expect,” Hogan explained. “In fact, I receive more conservative viewpoints from my instructors than I had anticipated.” Hogan added.
Another UCF student, Johanna Abrams, objected to university budget cuts being ordered by the state government. Abrams said she understands that tax dollars are limited, but she believes college leaders should be trusted with making the budget decisions that best serve the student body.
“The government’s job should be providing the funding for education, but not determining what is worthy of being taught,” Abrams said.
Regardless of their objectives and efforts to imitate, state-level DOGE organizations may not be exactly the same as their federal counterparts.
For instance, in Kansas,
the Committee on Government Effectiveness
While drawing inspiration from DOGE, it aims to gather suggestions from local citizens regarding methods to improve the efficiency of the state bureaucracy instead of enforcing its own modifications.
Missouri Senate portal
Inspired by the Federal Reserve, Dogecoin operates similarly. However, unlike the Federal Reserve, it doesn’t seek input from the general public for its operations.
And at the federal level, former DOGE chief Elon Musk sent an email to employees in February, requesting them to reply and explain “what they accomplished the previous week.”
he posted on X
“Non-response will be considered an automatic resignation.” Staff members were requested to provide a compilation of five achievements in their response.
The Ohio DOGE Caucus specifically stated that they will not be engaging in such activities.
“We won’t be sending emails to any state employees requesting them to provide us with five tasks they handled during the week,” said Ohio State Representative Tex Fischer, a Republican.
informed a nearby radio station
We’re essentially aiming to gather individuals with similar perspectives in a space where they can discuss ensuring that the government allocates our funds prudently and concentrates on those fundamental duties we all support.
Michael Vasquez authored this article for
The Hechinger Report
.
The support for this report was supplied by the Lumina Foundation.
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