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A top New Jersey The lawmaker is proposing legislation to form a Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in the Garden State, modeling it after Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Ohio businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, who they are training at the federal level.
“We need it more” than Washington, said Senate Minority Whip Joe Pennacchio, R-Boonton.
“We are reflecting what the federal government and what these two gentlemen are doing.”
Pennacchio, who also worked with former Republican Gov. Donald DiFrancesco on economic development, said NJDOGE would take over a state budget that has grown 60 percent in the past seven fiscal years.
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NJ State Senate Minority Whip Joe Pennacchio, R-Morris. (Official New Jersey State Senate photo)
“A lot of those increases were one-shots, when they borrowed money during the COVID period. You’re not going to get it back… They haven’t even spent it all. Those oneshots, they’re all gone.
“I’ve seen estimates of a budget deficit next year of maybe $4 billion. Next year is the governor’s race. We’re going to have a new governor, and regardless of who comes in, Republican or Democrat, it would be nice to have a committee. together to give them a plan of what we can or cannot do.”
He said the state has a “red tape” commission created by former Gov. Chris Christie to cut regulations, adding that it has not produced results.
“Every dollar we save is $1 less that (Trenton) has to raise taxes on,” Pennacchio said.
Pennacchio’s committee, if approved, would consist of a member from the state Treasury, one from the Chamber of Commerce, the top Republican and Democrat in the Senate and General Assembly and one public member appointed by the governor.
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Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy (Getty)
“Not only can we begin to break through our exacerbated affordability crisis by cutting unnecessary spending and ensuring efficiency, we can also ease the financial burden on our constituents across the Garden State by reducing the onslaught of taxes and fees.” , Pennacchio. he said
At least one other state senator plans to support the idea, but has yet to do so publicly. Fox News Digital also reached out to representatives in the General Assembly for their reaction to the senator’s legislation.
Despite long being considered a reliable “blue” state, New Jersey was about four points short of choosing Donald Trump over Vice President Kamala Harris. Political analysts pointed to the results as evidence of a major shift in public opinion toward public spending, among other issues.
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Trump won twice Morris County and flipped Passaic County in 2024, parts of which Pennacchio represents. The lawmaker said his constituents are on board with his NJDOGE proposal and have also recognized disparities in the financial support they receive from Trenton.
Fox News Digital reached out to Trump Transition for comment on the plan.
“My district is a district that is footing the bill. Schools in my district are seeing cuts while schools in other districts are not seeing cuts,” Pennacchio said.
“It’s things like this that we should be looking at… If the legislature sees fit that they still want to subsidize this nonsense, that’s fine. They’ll be on the record.
“We welcome the next new governor with outlines of what they can do, where there are cost savings, where things can be eliminated — that will stimulate the economy, maybe lower taxes on people.”
The 2025 field for that governor’s race is crowded, with several prominent names in both partisan primaries.
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, former Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney and Reps. Mikie Sherrill and Josh Gottheimer round out the Democratic options.
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Truck driver and former state Sen. Ed Durr, Sen. Jon Bramnick, conservative journalist Bill Spadea and 2021 gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli are the top names on the Republican side.
State Sen. Robert Singer, R-Lakewood, also joined Pennacchio’s call for an NJDOGE.
“With President Trump’s plan to bring business back to the USA, New Jersey has an opportunity to lead the charge. It’s time to restore our state’s manufacturing glory with good-paying jobs.” said the singer.
“Let’s make New Jersey the blueprint for the Make America Work Again movement, starting with a statewide DOGE.”
The New Jersey Capitol in Trenton (iStock)
Recently, large drones have been spotted in the Pennacchio district, making national news.
Pennacchio criticized the feds for providing few answers to the Jerseyans on the plane, saying that when terrorists attacked the World Trade Center in 2001, government officials knew immediately who orchestrated it.
“We even had a little face-off with the Department of Homeland Security (about drones). They were useless. . . . They should be ashamed of themselves. The director of the FBI, checked. (Christopher Wray) already announced he was leaving… So who cares about the store here?”
