Missouri Senator Highlights DOGE Committee’s push for leaner government

JOPLIN, Mo. — In an interview with Newstalk KZRG this week, Senator Mary Elizabeth Coleman laid out the Missouri Department of Government Efficiency (MODOGE) Committee’s mission to trim the fat from state operations, touting a deliberate approach that she says stands in stark contrast to the rushed tactics often seen in Washington. The committee, tasked with rooting out waste and boosting efficiency, has already notched some wins—and uncovered a few surprises—since its inception.

Coleman pointed to a fruitful partnership with Governor Kehoe that’s shaping return-to-work policies for state employees, a move aimed at getting Missouri’s workforce back on track. 

“The first thing that we’ve done is we have worked with the governor’s office and we’re reviewing the return to work policies, Governor Kehoe, you know, making sure that nobody should be working from home that needs to be in their offices,” Coleman said. “People, when they go to government buildings, they expect somebody to be there to answer their questions at 2:00 or at 4:00.”

Meanwhile, the committee’s financial sleuthing claims to have turned up over $6.5 million in abandoned funds—money now poised for recovery.

“We filed legislation to sweep those dollars, put it back into general revenue to fund essential services or frankly work on further cutting taxes to return money to taxpayers,” Coleman added.

The MODOGE team isn’t stopping at the statehouse. They’ve launched surveys targeting school districts to sniff out inefficiencies and are taking a hard look at Missouri’s real estate portfolio to sharpen asset management. 

“Right now, we have a survey that we have sent out to 10 percent of the school districts and we’re working through those responses to see what waste, fraud and abuse is happening in our local school district schools, try to make sure that they’re being efficient, that they’re following the state statutes and mandates,” Coleman said.

Public input is fueling the effort, too. A feedback portal has fielded concerns from citizens, with chronic wasting disease management emerging as a hot-button issue.

Unlike some federal counterparts that wrap up with the legislative session, DOGE’s work won’t hit pause. Coleman vowed to keep the committee humming through interim periods, promising sustained public engagement and relentless efficiency audits.