Alabama Needs ALDOGE
Why does Alabama have 27% more State employees per capita than Texas? Can someone explain that to me, please?
Opinion - Syndicated Columnist
$55 billion and counting. That’s how much Elon Musk and DOGE have saved American taxpayers thus far.
Hardly a day goes by without another revelation of shockingly stupid spending, across nearly every agency and Department. Just in the last few days, the @DOGE X account has posted:
- $265k for “food and nutrition services three day leadership retreat in Atlanta“
- $30k for “Malaysia study tour facilitation services“
- $324k for “increasing DEIA programming for integrated pest management“
- $226mm across 18 grants for consulting services with a large focus on DEI
Let’s not forget all those millions coming out of USAID for such gems as:
- $1.5mm to advance DEI in Serbia by promoting and empowering LGBTQ+ Serbians
- $45mm for DEI scholarships in Burma
- $20mm for a Sesame Street show in Iraq
- $520mm for consultant-driven ESG in Africa
And my personal favorite:
- $70k for the production of a DEI musical in Ireland
Clearly, the DC Swamp has been long overdue for exactly the kind of treatment DOGE is giving it. That begs the question: how much waste, fraud, abuse and just plain unnecessary, frivolous spending is happening at the State and local level?
Given that Alabama typically ranks among the most corrupt States, it’s not much of a stretch to think that the answer here might be “a lot.”
Currently, the Legislature is considering the two highest budgets in the State’s history. Governor Ivey has proposed a General Fund Budget of $3.7 billion and a Special Education Trust Fund Budget of $9.9 billion. If that weren’t enough, State Senator Greg Albritton has told the Legislature that the $1.3 billion price tag we were quoted in 2021 for two mega prisons isn’t enough. He’s introduced a bill to raise the borrowing limit by $500 million because the original figures were “slightly off.”
$500 million is “slightly off?” I’d hate to see what Sen. Albritton calls “way off!”
That right there should tell you we desperately need a home-grown DOGE—let’s call it ALDOGE—but if it doesn’t, how about this:
- The UA System (UA, UAB, UAH) “closed” their DEI programs after Alabama passed a law prohibiting such offices, BUT
- UA opened the Division of Opportunities, Connections and Success, headed by Christine Taylor—the previous VP of DEI
- UAB opened the Office of Access and Engagement
- Auburn changed the name of the DEI Committee to the Committee of Access, Engagement, and Opportunity, “responsible for promoting a culture of fairness, access, and representation across the University.”
Seriously, it looks like all they did was rebrand, change a few lines on their mission statements, and go right on doing what they were doing.
If you look at the number of State employees per capita, you’ll find that Alabama has a LOT of them:
- Alabama, 14.22 State Employees/1000 people
- Florida, 7.83
- Tennessee, 9.66
- Texas, 11.18
- Georgia, 11.61
- Mississippi, 15.25
These figures are estimates made by Grok AI, and once again we’re left saying “Thank God for Mississippi!”
Why does Alabama have 27% more State employees per capita than Texas? Can someone explain that to me, please?
Lastly, remember the 10 cent gas tax we got back in 2021, that’s adjusted (always up) every other year? Most of us have seen those Rebuilding Alabama signs—are we sure we’re getting the best value for our money?
Governor Ivey has asked the Legislature for a total of $13.6 billion dollars for FY 2026, between the General Fund and the Special Education Trust Fund. If only 1% of that could be recovered, that’d be a cool $136 million dollars.
What do you want to bet ALDOGE could find more than 1%?
For several days, I’ve been talking with people about an Alabama version of DOGE. Everyone I’ve talked to has an example or three of spending that could be scaled back or cut out completely. I’m told the Alabama Policy Institute started asking people for ideas for an ALDOGE back in December—I’ve reached out to them about the examples of waste they’ve collected, but haven’t heard anything back.
We need to know the people’s money is being spent wisely. We need to know the State is as careful with our money as we have to be after four years of Bidenflation. We need to know we’re getting good value, and not supporting things that go against our Alabama values.
We need ALDOGE, and we need it now—not next session, not after the 2026 elections. Now.
If the Governor and the Legislature have the will, they can deliver us an independent, trustworthy ALDOGE during this legislative session. It’s not too late IF they want to do this for Alabamians.
And if they don’t? I think we deserve to know why.
