How DOGE is Reshaping Government Consolidation: A New Chapter in the Age-Old Struggle
The idea of consolidation, and even closing, of government structures has been a reoccurring topic in the news recently, with the DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency), run by Elon Musk, making headlines daily. Republican-led states, following suit, have turned to self-scrutiny of their own, introducing bills to create state-level “DOGE” commissions. South Carolina is one of the many states discussing how to implement similar government efficiency measures.
SC Attorney General Alan Wilson has recently spoken up about this issue, stating that “The Office of the Inspector General should be more like the police who patrol the open roads. Its authority and resources should be reformed to allow it to become a more effective government watchdog… It should be adequately staffed and funded so that random audits and investigations can happen all over the state.”
But, this government efficiency conversation is not new to the Palmetto State. Since as early as 1920, South Carolina has looked to restructure and reexamine state agencies, to ensure they use state funds efficiently. We consider two of these efforts here—the South Carolina State Reorganization Commission and the Management, Accountability, and Performance Commission (MAP).
Brief History
Historically, South Carolina has had one of the weakest governors and a long history of disjointed state organization. Yet, as Dr. Oran P. Smith shared in “History Reform Speaks Clearly to SC Health Agency Reforms”, Governor Carroll Campbell, a huge advocate for combining and restructuring state agencies, made a significant impact on the Palmetto State. South Carolina once had a plethora of boards and commissions (see chart below), ranging from the ‘‘Governor’s Mansion Commission’ to the ‘Committee on Dead Human Bodies’!
South Carolina State Reorganization Commission (1949 – 1997)
Though some studies pre-date the Committee, the SC State Reorganization Commission was formally created in 1949, with the goal to review and recommend changes in the state’s administrative structure. The objectives were increasing efficiency, promoting the economy, and reducing the cost of government in the wake of the end of World War II.
“It was it was the DOGE of its era, the state Reorganization Commission. There were 14 state government reorganization studies between 1920 and 1993.”
– Dr. Oran P. Smith, Testimony on S.2 to Reorganize SC Health Agencies, February 6, 2025
The make-up of this commission was 13 members: 3 from the House, 3 from the Senate, 3 appointed by Governor, and 4 ex-officio members.
Thanks to our friends at the SC State Library, we were able to locate the Annual Reports of the South Carolina State Reorganization Commission of Fiscal Years 1984-1985 and 1985-1986, which included these helpful timelines of the Reorganization Commission.
A few changes recommended by the Reorganization Commission include:
- Combination of small agencies, creating State Budget and Control Board
- Merger of several agencies to create Wildlife Resource Commission
- Establishment of Central Purchasing Office
- Creating the Department of Health and Environmental Control
- Establishment of the Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse
- Development of performance measures for state agencies
- Administration of a sunset review process (a process by which agencies are reviewed to see if they are still necessary)
The Reorganization Commission’s work culminated in the State Government Restructuring Act under Governor Carroll Campbell’s administration in 1993.
Management, Accountability, and Performance Commission (MAP) (2003 – 2004)
Members of the MAP Commission. Source: MAP Report (2003)
The Management, Accountability, and Performance Commission (MAP) began in June 2003. This commission was formed to meet the financial crisis that was arising across state governments and affecting South Carolina. Their specific goals included reducing costs, increasing accountability, eliminating duplication of effort, improving government’s effectiveness, focusing on outcomes/results, and meeting the needs of citizens.
Source: MAP Report (2003)
This commission consisted of 12 individuals from the private sector and 2 constitutional officers (State’s Lieutenant Governor and Comptroller Governor). Over 30 staff members contributed time to the Commission. The Vice Chairman of the MAP Commission, Stu Rodman, is also the current vice chair of Palmetto Promise Institute!
A few recommended changes that have since been done:
- The position of the Adjutant General changed from an elected office to an appointed office.
- Consolidation of state’s school districts (used to be 85 school districts).
- Eliminate the Second Injury Fund and fold residual functions into the Department of Insurance Cluster.
- Created the Department of Administration Cluster (DA)
There are also several MAP Commission proposals that have not yet seen legislative action but are currently being championed by Palmetto Promise in our Freedom Agenda, include:
- Amending state law to authorize a single cabinet secretary (Secretary of Health and Human Services) to oversee all health and human services agencies
- Consolidating the Department of Alcohol and other Drug Abuse Services and the inpatient addiction treatment services of the Vocational Rehabilitation within the Department of Mental Health
- Ensuring all local school boards receive appropriate training related to their position
“DOGE” Legislation in 2025
Currently, the House and Senate have their own versions of South Carolina DOGE Commission legislation. Here are some of the differences.
H.3334 – South Carolina Government Efficiency Act
H.3334, currently residing within the Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives, creates a ‘South Carolina Efficiency Task Force’ that would develop recommendations for streamlining government agencies and operations. This committee would meet no later than June 2025 and every four years after. Their suggestions would be sent to the President of the Senator, the Speaker of House of Representatives, and the Governor.
This task force would be comprised of 15 members; five members from the Senate, five members of the House of Representatives, and five from the Governor. Members would be entitled to compensation.
S.318 – Commission on Fiscal Restraint and Government Efficiency
S.318, which recently received a hearing in the Senate’s Finance Committee, creates a commission that surveys the current structure and funding of our state government to find ways to modernize it. The commission should meet no later than October 1, 2025, and report its findings within a year.
This commission would be comprised of a total of 9 members; 3 members appointed by the President of the Senate, 3 members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and 3 members appointed by the Governor. Members would serve without compensation.
The Future DOGE
South Carolina is ahead of the DOGE game with our long history of work on this front. We urge legislators to examine the work of the Reorganization Commission and MAP Commission and their recommendations on our current state organization. Many are still relevant today.
South Carolina should continue to move forward on this front, and that includes streamlining health functions across the state. Through the consolidating of our health agencies we can achieve greater efficiency, reduce bureaucratic hurdles, and provide more coordinated care. In his Testimony on S.2 to Reorganize SC Health Agencies, Dr. Oran P. Smith shared, “Following the division of DHEC into separate environmental and health agencies, the General Assembly, I believe here, is taking the next step by streamlining the health functions of three state agencies, S.2., which is consistent with all of those studies.” Those agencies are the Department of Mental Health, the Department of Disabilities and Special Needs, and the Department of Drug and Alcohol Abuse.
To read more about the consolidation needed in our health agencies, read “Agency Streamlining Still Needed; More Options in Play in 2025.”
The final report of the MAP Commission can be found here.
Information about the South Carolina State Reorganization Commission can be found here.
