North Carolina Senate Passes DAVE Act: Will Government Waste Finally Be Cut?

On April 8, 2025, the North Carolina Senate passed the DAVE Act (Division of Accountability, Value, and Efficiency Act), a new legislative measure that aims to streamline state government operations, increase accountability, and ensure taxpayer dollars are used efficiently. Sponsored by Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Eden), along with Senators Tim Moffitt (R-Henderson) and Steve Jarvis (R-Davidson), the bill is now heading to the North Carolina House for consideration.

The DAVE Act establishes a division within the State Auditor’s office to review and recommend changes to the spending and operations of state agencies. It aims to identify areas where spending is inefficient or redundant and suggests improvements to ensure better use of public resources. One of the primary goals is to evaluate the need for every state agency and the positions within them, focusing particularly on vacancies that have remained unfilled for extended periods.

Under the proposed law, each state agency will be required to report how they utilize public funds and explain any vacant positions that have been open for six months or longer. This information will help assess the effectiveness of state spending and whether these agencies are still needed. The division will use modern technology, including artificial intelligence, to analyze spending patterns, identify potential waste, and ensure that funds are being allocated effectively.

Senate Leader Phil Berger, a key advocate of the bill, emphasized the importance of holding government accountable for the way it spends taxpayer money. By introducing the DAVE Act, Berger and his colleagues seek to address concerns over bureaucratic inefficiency and make state agencies more responsive and cost-effective. “The DAVE Act is a critical step in ensuring that North Carolina’s state government operates as efficiently as possible, focusing on delivering value to the people,” Berger said in a statement.

While the DAVE Act focuses on state-level efficiency improvements in North Carolina, the concept of government accountability has gained national attention, particularly with the launch of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under President Trump in early 2025. Led by Elon Musk, DOGE aims to cut waste and inefficiency in federal government operations. However, it has faced backlash for its aggressive cost-cutting strategies, including significant layoffs and program cancellations. Critics argue that these measures might undermine essential public services, sparking debates about the balance between efficiency and maintaining vital government functions.

The DAVE Act takes a more measured approach, focusing on state-level agencies, but the national discourse surrounding DOGE has sparked broader conversations about the complexities and potential risks of implementing efficiency-driven reforms across all levels of government.

The DAVE Act’s final report, due by the end of 2025, will include recommendations on which agencies or positions should be cut. This comprehensive evaluation will provide lawmakers with the information needed to make data-driven decisions on government reform.

The DAVE Act is set to expire in December 2028, by which time the division will have completed its assessments and made recommendations for long-term structural improvements in state government. This new initiative marks a significant step toward improving government accountability in North Carolina, with the hope that it will lead to more efficient use of public funds, less government waste, and better services for residents across the state.