Landmark DAVE Act Shakes Up NC Government

Scissors cutting through a stack of dollar bills

North Carolina is on the verge of transforming government accountability with a landmark efficiency bill that could reshape state spending and oversight for years to come.

Story Snapshot

North Carolina’s DAVE Act, inspired by the federal DOGE initiative, passes with bipartisan support and awaits the governor’s signature
Auditor Dave Boliek will gain new authority to review state spending and recommend cost-cutting reforms, with a focus on data-driven, nonpartisan oversight
The legislation requires agencies to justify their existence and vacancies, raising concerns among state workers about possible job losses
The bill’s passage signals a broader trend of states seeking to rein in government excess and protect taxpayer dollars

North Carolina Moves to Rein in Government Waste with DAVE Act

The North Carolina General Assembly has passed House Bill 125, establishing the Division of Accountability, Value, and Efficiency—known as the DAVE Act—modeled after the Trump-era federal Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The bill is now on Democratic Governor Josh Stein’s desk after passing both chambers with overwhelming bipartisan support, 91-23 in the House and 47-2 in the Senate. The DAVE Act empowers State Auditor Dave Boliek’s office to scrutinize agency spending and recommend efficiency improvements, marking a significant step toward fiscal transparency and government accountability. Supporters say the move addresses years of taxpayer frustration over unchecked government growth and ballooning deficits.

Auditor Boliek, at the center of the reform, has pledged a nonpartisan, data-driven approach to rooting out waste. The new mandate will require every state agency to provide public justification for its operations and any unfilled positions by October 1, 2025. Legislative leaders argue that these measures will restore public trust and ensure government serves the people, not entrenched bureaucracies. The DAVE Act stands out nationally as one of the first state-level initiatives to formalize efficiency audits through a dedicated division with explicit legislative support.

Bipartisan Support, But State Workers Voice Concerns

The DAVE Act’s journey through the General Assembly was marked by rare bipartisan cooperation, reflecting a shared desire to address persistent budget deficits and inefficiencies. Republican Senate leader Phil Berger, a primary sponsor, emphasized the legislature’s role in making final decisions on any recommended job cuts, assuring that the auditor cannot directly terminate employees. Despite these assurances, the State Employees Association has voiced strong concerns about potential downsizing and the erosion of public services. Their leaders have lobbied for greater safeguards, fearing that aggressive cost-cutting could undermine vital state functions and threaten job security for thousands of workers.

Boliek and legislative backers maintain that the reform is not about slashing jobs indiscriminately, but about demanding accountability and results. They point to the use of advanced artificial intelligence tools in the auditing process as both a modernizing force and a means to ensure decisions are grounded in objective analysis. However, critics caution that even data-driven reforms can have unintended consequences, such as the loss of institutional knowledge and a decline in service quality.

Background: Lessons from the Federal DOGE Initiative

The federal DOGE initiative under the Trump administration set the precedent for aggressive government streamlining, consolidating agencies and eliminating redundant positions. While that initiative delivered measurable reductions in federal spending, it also sparked controversy over its impact on public services and government morale. North Carolina’s DAVE Act borrows from this model but includes modifications—most notably, the auditor’s inability to directly fire employees—to address concerns raised by public sector unions and advocates.

Smaller-scale efficiency audits have occurred in North Carolina before, but none have matched the scope or legislative backing of the DAVE Act. This bill was born out of protracted budget negotiations, with efficiency reforms seen as a way to break legislative deadlock and demonstrate responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. With state agencies managing persistent workforce vacancies and ongoing budget pressures, the timing was ripe for broad, systemic reform.

Implementation Timeline and What Comes Next

With the bill’s passage, state agencies are already preparing to submit their required reports, justifying every operation and explaining unfilled positions. Auditor Boliek’s office is ramping up its operations and developing new protocols for the expanded oversight role. Although Governor Stein has not publicly indicated whether he will sign or veto the bill, the strong bipartisan margins make a veto override likely if he declines to act. State employee groups continue to advocate for amendments or additional protections, but legislative leaders show little appetite for further delay.

North Carolina auditor excited for 'real effect' of state-level DOGE: 'Keeping government accountable' https://t.co/ATVk25mDdf

— Fox News (@FoxNews) August 3, 2025

In the short term, the DAVE Act will increase scrutiny of agency budgets and may slow the filling of vacant positions. The longer-term impact could be profound: supporters predict a leaner, more accountable government that delivers better value to taxpayers, while critics warn of potential ripple effects if service cuts go too far. What is clear is that North Carolina’s experiment with government efficiency will be closely watched by other states—and by Americans who are tired of runaway spending and bureaucratic excess.