(The Center Square) — A New Hampshire panel inspired by Elon Musk’s now-defunct Department of Government Efficiency is recommending the state end remote work for government employees and dismantle the health department, among other changes.
The New Hampshire Commission on Government Efficiency, headed by former Republican Gov. Craig Benson, released its first report on Thursday, calling for wide-ranging changes in state government aimed at improving efficiency and eliminating wasteful spending.
A key recommendation in the 77-page report is for the state government to return to an in-person work standard for all employees whose duties can be performed on-site, stating that the changes would improve collaboration among workers and service to the public.
“While remote work arrangements were necessary during the pandemic, they are not a sustainable long-term model for an organization whose mission depends on teamwork, public access, and responsive service,” the report’s authors wrote. “Restoring an in-person work culture will strengthen accountability, improve coordination across agencies, and rebuild the sense of shared purpose that defines effective public service.”
Another recommendation calls for breaking up the “behemoth” state Department of Health and Human Services and delegating its many responsibilities to other agencies to improve service and accountability.
“This is an amazing opportunity to rethink how New Hampshire delivers essential services to its most vulnerable citizens,” the group wrote. “By creating smaller, more agile agencies with well-defined missions and clear accountability, the state can strengthen, not weaken, its commitment to those it serves, ensuring that resources are used efficiently, transparently, and effectively.”
The panel was a key priority for Gov. Kelly Ayotte, who welcomed the panel’s recommendations on Thursday, saying the commission’s work will help “deliver more value for taxpayers and build a more modern, efficient, and responsive government.”
“COGE dug into the day-to-day realities of how government works, and their recommendations reflect that,” the first-term Republican said in a statement. “These are practical improvements that will help us better serve Granite Staters.”
Ayotte singled out several of the recommendations she said have “strong potential to modernize government, enhance New Hampshire’s long-term competitiveness, and maximize taxpayer value.”
Those included proposals to build a “sustainable framework” for artificial intelligence development, modernizing state case management systems and cutting government red tape.
The 15-member panel is made up of business leaders and state government officials, including House Speaker Sherman Packard, R-Londonderry, state Sen. Mark McConkey, R-Freedom, and Bedford businessman Andy Crews, according to the Ayotte administration.
Benson called the panel’s recommendations “practical steps that modernize how we operate, strengthen future competitiveness, and ensure taxpayers get the best possible return on every dollar.”
“Our work has reinforced something we heard in every corner of state government: New Hampshire succeeds when it adapts, collaborates, and reinvests in itself,” he said in a statement. “This is an opportunity to build on what works, fix what doesn’t, and position New Hampshire for long-term success.”
