Governor Kim Reynolds has released the final report and recommendations from the Iowa DOGE Task Force, a group established to evaluate and improve state government operations. The report was submitted to the governor on September 29, 2025, and its findings were presented at a press conference where Governor Reynolds was joined by task force chair Emily Schmitt.
Governor Reynolds explained the motivation behind forming the task force: “Alignment has given us a clear line of sight into all areas of state government and reinforced the importance of continuously evaluating and improving our operations. The Iowa DOGE Task Force was a logical next step,” she said. “In February, I signed Executive Order 12, establishing the task force and inviting leaders from private sector businesses, local government and education to assess how we can improve workforce programs, leverage emerging technologies, maximize taxpayer investment, and ultimately, take alignment to the next level.”
Over a period of 180 days, the task force worked with multiple state agencies, held focus groups with stakeholders, collected input from more than 5,000 Iowans across all 99 counties in Iowa, and produced a comprehensive set of actionable recommendations.
Emily Schmitt highlighted the benefits of these efforts: “Creating a government ecosystem that reduces administration and increases collaboration allows every Iowan a better serviced state and outcomes that can evolve and adapt,” she said. “These factors not only contribute to effective government, but also overall economic development, community vibrancy and business growth.”
Addressing concerns about IPERS—the state's largest public pension system—Governor Reynolds stated: “There has been much public speculation, not to mention misinformation, about potential changes to benefits that state employees, law enforcement officers, teachers, and others rely on," Gov. Reynolds said. "You can rest assured that IPERS will be there for your retirement, just as you’ve planned and we’ve promised. You have my word, and it was the intent of the task force from the beginning.”
Governor Reynolds also indicated that she would review specific recommendations in detail with her cabinet members before deciding on implementation strategies. “Our goal will be to build on the success of alignment, leverage ongoing progress across agencies, and identify new areas for further improvement,” she said.
The full report is available on the Office of the Governor’s website at governor.iowa.gov.
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