Wisconsin’s version of DOGE — called GOAT — is getting started

As Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, initiates federal funding cuts and mass layoffs, Wisconsin Republicans’ version is just getting started.

The first hearing of the Legislature’s Committee on Government Operations, Accountability and Transparency, or GOAT, focused on state employees working from home since the COVID-19 pandemic.

GOAT was created in December by Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, with the stated goal of exposing and addressing inefficiency in government. Its launch comes as DOGE has become practically a household name, and the two cover similar topics.

But while Musk’s group has unilaterally spearheaded the dismantling of a federal agency, frozen federal contracts and laid off of thousands of federal workers with the backing of President Donald Trump, Wisconsin’s version doesn’t have the same unilateral power. Any cuts to state funding or government operations recommended by GOAT would have to pass the full Legislature and survive Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ veto pen.

Tuesday’s informational hearing focused on remote work and included testimony from heads of the state Department of Administration, Department of Public Instruction, Department of Health Services, Department of Safety and Professional Services and the Universities of Wisconsin.

GOAT Chair Amanda Nedweski, a Republican from Pleasant Prairie, said lawmakers have seen increased demand from state residents for transparency with regard to remote work.

“The people who pay the salaries of the state employees want to know that there’s more accountability than just, move your mouse every few minutes,” Nedweski said.

A recent Marquette University Law School poll described public sentiment on remote work for state employees as “narrowly divided,” with 54 percent of respondents in favor of requiring them to return to work and 45 percent opposing such a policy.

Overall, agencies who testified reported benefits from remote work, saying the option improves recruitment and saves money on things like travel and reducing office space.

Department of Public Instruction spokesperson Tom McCarthy said the agency has transitioned from two Madison office buildings with 75,000 square feet to a new office building of around 25,000 square feet, with more employees working in places like Green Bay and Ashland.

He said DPI has also gotten better about regularly evaluating remote-work agreements, and technology allows administrators to make sure employees are fulfilling their duties.

Some Republicans were skeptical.

“What kind of tools do you utilize to ensure they’re actually at their workstation doing work during those specified hours?” said state Rep. Shae Sortwell, R-Two Rivers. “Do you have cameras? Somebody I know has a camera that a supervisor can activate on somebody’s workstation anytime, just to see if they’re sitting there working.” 

McCarthy said the computer system automatically logs employees out if they’re inactive, and they’re required to log back in.

As the committee contemplates remote work, a bill authored by Nedweski seeking to end the practice for most state employees is currently circulating in the state Capitol. She said the legislation may not be necessary if agencies were more open about remote work practices.

She closed the hearing by addressing data requests sent by Sortwell to multiple Democratic cities seeking information about grants related to training programs on diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI. Sortwell’s efforts were first reported by Wisconsin Watch.

Nedweski said it was an issue the committee “might be working on in the future.”  

“If the information collection substantiates such, the committee may or may not pursue further action on this topic,” Nedweski said. “So, there’s been some discussion around this. I just want to put it out there publicly that if the information that we get substantiates further action, we will bring it to the committee.”