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Idaho Legislature DOGE — Idaho Doesn’t Need Another Task Force It Needs a Backbone!! Who’s Watching the Watchdogs? By Idaho Sen. Glenneda ZUIDERVELD (07/21/25). Last update 07/27/25
07/23/25 Update: Since publishing this note, other political writers have weighed in on this topic. We have provided links in the Related section below (marked with 🆕) and hope you will read the articles to gather different perspectives on this topic.
ED NOTE
Sen. Zuiderveld, thank you, yet again, for shining light in the Idaho legislature's dark places!
We thought this terrible task force idea had died on the vine, but apparently the gardeners have been busy little bees behind the legislature's and taxpayers' back.
It's outrageous to create a "government efficiency" task force composed almost entirely of people who are part of the spending problem (their dismal IFF spending scores reveal all).
This unauthorized-by-legislation task force should be disbanded and its members sent home until next session. Their job is attending to the state's spending IN SESSION, transparently. Ridiculously, these extra-session meetings embody the reckless tax-funded spending they supposedly are trying to rein in.
We opposed the DOGE task force bill when it was introduced as H0364 in March 2025, stating "this implementation could be wolves guarding the hen house." OK, should have been foxes, but you get the idea (see tinyurl.com/3fu8kjpw)Summary (Grok ai, edited; images from article)
Senator Glenneda Zuiderveld shines a light on Idaho’s government growth, lack of public awareness about task forces, and JFAC’s failure to curb wasteful spending. She calls for thorough audits of state budgets, vacant positions, and idle funds, urging the task force to deliver measurable outcomes rather than redundant reports.
She criticizes creation of Idaho’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Task Force, stating it duplicates responsibilities of the Joint Finance Appropriation Committee (JFAC).
The DOGE task force’s legitimacy, cost, and transparency are questionable. It was formed without Senate approval and may burden taxpayers with additional out-of-session costs.
Task Force Concerns:
Formed without Senate approval, bypassing legislative process.
Duplicates JFAC’s role in overseeing fiscal responsibility and agency accountability.
Questions transparency in member selection and task force costs. (Most members have some of the worst spending scores in the legislature. See last image below.)
DOGE Task Force Goals (House Bill 364):
Promote efficient governance, fiscal responsibility, and accountability.
Review agency functions, regulations, and budgets.
Operate through three subgroups: Regulatory Accountability, Budget Accountability, and Government Operations and Oversight.
Set to run through November 30, 2029, unless modified by legislation.
ED NOTE
Wait! What? This DOGE task force apparently was created out of thin air by House Speaker Mike Moyle and Senate Pro Tempore Kelly Anthon, not by legislative process such as H0364. H0364 stalled in Senate State Affairs committee (chair Jim Guthrie, members included Kelly Anthon).Author’s Critique:
JFAC already has tools to address government efficiency but lacks will to act.
Task forces contribute to year-round legislative operations, contrary to Idaho’s part-time legislator model.
Idaho’s government has grown 60% in six years, indicating oversight failure.
Lack of public awareness about task forces reduces transparency.
Questions whether the task force will lead to meaningful action or repeat JFAC’s inaction.
Proposed Actions for Task Force:
Investigate state agency vacancies and allocated funds.
Review the LAUNCH program’s effectiveness and fund usage.
Audit all task forces, continuous spending, rainy day funds, and unused earmarked funds.
Restore continuous spending to legislative oversight.
🔥 Call to Action:
Sen. Zuiderveld encourages public testimony to ensure task force accountability.
Sign up to testify on DOGE TASK FORCE (2 minute limit): tinyurl.com/yp9t22zk
When: Friday, July 25, 2025 | 2:00 P.M.
Where: Idaho State Capitol | 700 W Jefferson St, Boise, ID 83702 (map: maps.app.goo.gl/Mkac1Dg…) | Room WW55
Related:
🆕 Idaho Politics — Two Stories: First Meeting of Idaho DOGE Committee and Idaho Freedom Foundation Goals for 2026. Posted 07/27/25: tinyurl.com/58bp5w4s
🆕 The Shadow Legislature. Idaho’s Quiet March Toward Full-Time Government. By Idaho Rep. David J Leavitt (07/24/25): tinyurl.com/3y9h2z56
🆕 The Paradox of the Citizen Legislature. How can we support effective champions of liberty without growing government in the process? By Brian Almon (07/24/25). A different take on the issues; quotes Rep. Leavitt’s article: tinyurl.com/yv4baxpu
🆕🔥Idaho DOGE: Misses it by That Much. By Idaho Freedom Foundation President Ron Nate. You won’t want to miss this excellent summary (07/23/25): tinyurl.com/mw8ppnnv
🆕 Idaho DOGE Task Force. By Stop Idaho RINOS (07/22/25): tinyurl.com/ynr8z883
🆕 DOGE Task Force Takes Shape. Will it result in meaningful reform? By Brian Almon (07/22/25): tinyurl.com/427xh5s6
Government Efficiency by Committee, What Could Go Wrong? A message from the Gang of 8. By Sen. Christy Zito, Zito for Idaho (07/22/25): tinyurl.com/4vv6wpx2
H0364 - DOGE task force (not voted on in Senate): tinyurl.com/fkmtphn8
Idaho Legislature: Ask Legislators to VOTE NO on H0364 - DOGE task force: tinyurl.com/3fu8kjpw
Idaho Legislature 2025 Bills to Support or Oppose: tinyurl.com/2z6nxk77
