Big Money Wasted: What If DOGE Audited Utah’s Government?

Imagine later this year: the Utah State Capitol flooded with outraged protesters, their signs shouting, “DOGE Out of Utah” and “Save Our Jobs.” What if the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), President Trump’s financial waste watchdog, led by Elon Musk, set its sights on Utah?  

Compared to Other States Utah Gets High Marks 

U.S. News Ranks the best run states every year and in 2024 Utah was the top of the list. The rankings are totaled from many factors. Everything from healthcare, education to how good the roads are. This high praise would indicate Utah is in pretty good shape. 

However, every big bureaucracy is going to have some waste. A report from Americans for Prosperity that was released in 2017 listed all the government programs they thought were wasteful in Utah. Most of what they point to is money set aside for the arts and museums.

There has been a push by the Governor to explore energy and minerals like lithium in the state. Some feel that these expenditures are wasteful. I'm sure there could be much more waste found depending on your perspective.

Would Utah React Well if the State Government Was Getting Trimmed? 

Picture DOGE slashing through Utah’s bureaucracy. Which departments would be first on the chopping block—Education, Health, or another sector deemed “wasteful”? 

Fearing mass layoffs, protesters would cry betrayal. “They’re gutting our environment for Tesla’s bottom line!” Rumors swirl that DOGE flagged Utah’s wildfire prevention budget as “inefficient,” sparking accusations of prioritizing profits over public safety. 

Read More: Exposed: Get This List Of 6 Free Utah National Park Days

Or what if it is viewed as a breakthrough? “At last, Utah’s tax dollars freed from bloated bureaucracy!” Would this fuel deeper political division, or could common ground emerge? This “what if” scenario would undoubtedly ignite both praise and outrage.