In April 2026, Rick Jackson claimed he liked DOGE for evaluating government efficiency when asked what government services he would cut to fund his tax cut proposals. Jackson’s praise of DOGE came after Trump’s DOGE canceled grants worth hundreds of millions of dollars for public health, nonprofits, universities, and critical services across Georgia. Trump’s DOGE also threatened the livelihoods of 115,600 federal workers in Georgia, fired more than 2,300 Atlanta-based CDC employees, and closed five Georgia Social Security offices in 2025.
April 2026: When Asked What Government Programs He Would Cut To Fund His Tax Cut Proposals, Jackson Said He Liked The Concept Of DOGE To Evaluate Government Efficiency. According to Rick Jackson on WMGT-DT (NBC), "HOST: Your campaign promises to cut state income tax in half and eventually eliminate it while also freezing property taxes and tuition. So can you walk us through specifically what programs you would cut or eliminate to offset what could be billions in lost revenue and what services Georgians should expect to lose? JACKSON: Well, first of all, we can we can create a more efficient government in itself from that standpoint. I personally like the concept of DOGE, and that is to evaluate every part of the government to make sure it's efficient and accomplishes objectives and so forth." [Rick Jackson – WMGT-DT (NBC), 4/27/26] (VIDEO)
March 2025: DOGE Cuts Targeted 115,600 Federal Workers In Georgia. According to State Affairs, “Roughly 115,600 federal workers were employed in Georgia as of March, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, though analysts anticipate that number will drop in the coming months.” [State Affairs, 5/2/25]
May 2025: The Centers For Disease Control And Prevention In Atlanta Lost More Than 2,300 Employees Due To DOGE Layoffs And Buyouts. According to State Affairs, “No federal agency in Georgia has felt the sting of firings more than the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which has lost at least 2,300 employees since layoffs and buyouts began last month, according to a list provided by former workers.” [State Affairs, 5/2/25]
March 2025: DOGE Closed Five Social Security Offices In Georgia. According to ABC27, "Here’s the latest list of Social Security Administration offices that have been closed or are in the process of being closed by DOGE: Georgia - Brunswick, Columbus, Gainesville, Thomasville, Vidalia." [ABC27, 3/7/25]
As Of May 2025, DOGE Had Canceled Grants Worth Hundreds Of Millions Of Dollars Across Georgia, Including Many For The Centers For Disease Control And Prevention (CDC). According to State Affairs, “Scores of federal grants, contracts and building leases have been wiped out by the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), totaling hundreds of millions of dollars in Georgia so far, records show. Thousands of federal employees have been laid off or pushed into buyouts, particularly at the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where entire departments focused on health research and virus tracking have been gutted, former workers told State Affairs. Now, state budget analysts are bracing for the fallout from potential deep cuts to health, education, housing, food assistance and other programs cited in the 2026 federal budget proposal that President Donald Trump unveiled on Friday.” [State Affairs, 5/2/25]
April 2025: DOGE Cut More Than $815 Million In Federal Grants To Georgia Public Schools, Universities, Public Health, Mental Health Services, Housing, Immigrant Services, Agriculture, And International Causes. According to State Affairs, “A State Affairs analysis of DOGE data found that as of mid-April, more than $815 million in federal grants for public schools, universities, public health, mental health services, housing, immigrant services, agriculture and international causes based in Georgia have been cut.” [State Affairs, 5/2/25]