The Texas Legislature’s committee version of DOGE, the Committee on the Delivery of Government Efficiency, held its first meeting Wednesday and heard invited testimony from a variety of state agencies, including the Teacher Retirement System (TRS) and the Texas Education Agency (TEA), in an effort to streamline state government, make it more efficient, and curtail waste, fraud, and abuse.  

Committee members questioned TRS about the agency’s real estate dealings, particularly related to its 2020 lease in the Indeed Tower in Austin. TRS Executive Director Brian Guthrie explained the outcry over the lease was due to misinformation stemming from a public information request and explained that TRS actually owned the building at Indeed Tower and had been attempting to lease space to themselves, something the agency was prevented from disclosing to the public. Guthrie told the committee that TRS has since sold Indeed Tower and made significant profit. 

Rep. Briscoe Cain (R–Deer Park) questioned Guthrie about why TEA headquarters must be in Austin and not in a cheaper location such as Waco and about the possibility of opening smaller regional offices across the state to “spread the bureaucracy” instead of having it concentrated in Austin. Guthrie replied that it wasn’t a consideration to look elsewhere. Cain then questioned Guthrie about whether TRS employees are working in the office full time. Guthrie replied that the agency has have 1,200 employees and that 50%–76% take advantage of a hybrid policy that allows work from home one to two days a week. Guthrie said TRS has had no drop in efficiency due to the policy. (This week, Gov. Greg Abbott (R) directed state agencies to end hybrid work policies.)  

Members also had questions concerning the amount of money spent by TRS on travel, specifically foreign trips. Rep. Mike Olcott (R–Aledo) questioned Guthrie about the reason for the trips as well as the cost—$430,000 in a year. Guthrie replied that the trips are necessary to negotiate foreign investments and check on existing investments. Guthrie reported that TRS employees took around 100 trips last year. 

Later in the evening, committee members heard from TEA Commissioner Mike Morath. Morath was mostly questioned not on expenses or potential waste in his agency but on school districts and their use of state funds. When asked by Rep. Rhetta Bowers (D–Dallas) about why districts are struggling with deficit budgets, Morath demurred, saying it’s a simple matter of spending more than they bring in. Morath championed “targeted” investments rather than an investment in the Basic Allotment. (A Basic Allotment increase provides a lot more freedom for districts in terms of how money is spent.) 

Cain and Rep. Tony Tinderholt (R–Arlington) questioned Morath about growth in administrative staff within districts and whether money is flowing to classrooms. Morath responded by sharing information about the financial accountability system (FIRST) that districts report to annually. Morath also pointed out that while districts have financial accountability through FIRST, TEA is currently enjoined from sharing A-F accountability ratings. Morath specifically blamed districts for this, stating “You give them money and then they sue you.” This led to tense questions from Rep. Ana-Maria Rodriguez-Ramos (D–Richardson).  

“To say that they didn’t want accountability, that’s disingenuous,” Ramos said, pointing out the reason for the lawsuits was retroactive changes made to the rules regarding A-F accountability. She changed the subject to focus on the growth of TEA, questioning Morath on why the agency’s employee count had increased by almost 50% since 2016.  Morath, in response, stated, “When you give the agency specific responsibilities via legislation, they sometimes come with resources, and then we try to use those resources to accomplish what you’ve told us to do.”  He said the largest increase in full-time employees in his agency came following the 2023 passage of HB 3 (school safety) and HB 1605 (curriculum).  

“It’s the same with school districts, right?” Ramos replied. “Why is it okay for it to happen within your agency and then we’re attacking school districts because they’re having to provide transportation or fund these unfunded mandates that they’re being hammered with … when this is what the state is saying they have to pay?  We know the costs have increased, but we want to vilify them? I don’t understand.” 

Watch the discussion between Ramos and Morath here.

DOGE is a new committee, and as of now it is unclear exactly what its responsibilities will be or which bills will go through the committee, but ATPE will continue to monitor the committee and report on education-related committee business.