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‘LA DOGE’ delivers nearly $1 billion in savings for red state: ‘Unbelievably tremendous effort’
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Though the federal government’s Department of Government Efficiency has been largely disbanded, a Louisiana state version, dubbed «LA DOGE,» has pushed on and, according to an official report, is set to garner $1 billion in annual tax-dollar savings.
LA DOGE will achieve $999.5 million in annual cost savings of both federal and state tax dollars across 17 state departments, according to a report by Republican Gov. Jeff Landry’s office reviewed by Fox News Digital. The report posits that these savings will be achieved «without any reductions in service.»
LA DOGE was established by an executive order signed by Landry in December 2024 as the Louisiana Fiscal Responsibility Program. Similar to Elon Musk’s vision for the federal DOGE, the Louisiana version was set up with the intent to eliminate wasteful spending, improve government efficiency and modernize government operations.
Since being established, LA DOGE has been spearheaded by Louisiana Fiscal Responsibility Czar Steve Orlando, an oil and gas executive who had worked exclusively in the private sphere until being appointed to the role. The report said the department had worked closely with Louisiana legislative leadership, the Louisiana legislative auditor, and the commissioner of administration to identify and implement the cuts.
PRITZKER CHALLENGERS DEMAND AUDIT, PITCH ‘DOGE FOR ILLINOIS’ AND POINT TO WALZ-STYLE FAILURES
Left: Former DOGE chief Elon Musk. Right: Louisiana Republican Gov. Jeff Landry. (Samuel Corum/Getty Image; Michael Johnson/The Advocate via AP, Pool, File)
Of the nearly $1 billion in savings, the report said that $367 million was from Louisiana’s state general fund, $601 million from federal tax dollars and $65 million from other funding sources.
From the state fund, LA DOGE was able to cut $407.6 million in spending by improving the governmental workforce and service inefficiencies amongst state staff. An additional $206.4 million was cut through renegotiated and canceled contracts.
Critically, Louisiana was able to cut $285.5 million through Medicaid cuts that included improved eligibility determination processes to remove ineligible recipients and the implementation of an optimized process of monthly checks of residency of Medicaid members by utilizing data from the Office of Motor Vehicles. An additional $14.9 million was cut in similar eligibility determination improvements for SNAP beneficiaries.
An official in the governor’s office emphasized to Fox News Digital that the state has been able to make all of these cuts while simultaneously improving the state’s services to citizens.
TRUMP’S MAIN DOGE OFFICE SHUTTERS — BUT ITS WAR ON GOVERNMENT WASTE ISN’T OVER
The Louisiana Capitol in Baton Rouge, La. (AP Photo/Stephen Smith)
«We have been able to keep the budget down and not have a fiscal cliff, wean ourselves off of one time money used for recurring expenses, improve our roads and bridges, fund SNAP through these savings during the government shutdown, and give the largest tax cuts in state history,» she said.
Meanwhile, the official said that this has allowed the governor’s office to «continue to push for no income tax.»
Landry, who has been in office just two years, referred to LA DOGE as an «unbelievably tremendous effort» during a press conference touting its success.
The governor told Fox News Digital that he was «shocked» by the «sheer amount of federal and state matching dollars that we were able to save in the welfare program by doing simple things like cross-checking IDs, license verifications, things that have been pointed out as best practices in order to control the abuses inside the welfare system and nobody would do them. And we just did them, and we just immediately started seeing savings.»
Landry compared some of the cuts the state made to a family going back and canceling its unused subscriptions.
«Sometimes it’s as just checking to find out about subscriptions,» he said. «In our households, we have a tendency to maybe go back and do that, especially when times get tight, inflation starts biting into people’s pockets. But in government, it’s really not their money, they don’t have to generate the revenue like you have to generate in businesses.»
‘MISSISSIPPI MUSK’: STATE AUDITOR’S MOGE REPORT FINDS $400M IN GOVERNMENT WASTE
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry (R) speaks during a meeting with then-President-elect Donald Trump and other Republican governors at the Mar-a-Lago Club on January 9, 2025 in Palm Beach, Florida. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Though he said LA DOGE’s mission is complete, Landry noted that «our goal and efforts toward improving government and continuing to seek efficiencies are not complete.»
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«In fact, we are just getting started,» he said.
The governor shared that he plans to reform the Office of the Inspector General to «take on a new, expansive role as a reformed office also focused on optimization and efficiency within state government.»
«We haven’t stopped, and we won’t stop in finding efficiencies and actually improving the services we have provided through state government,» said Landry.
In a word of advice to other states hoping to emulate LA DOGE’s success, Landry urged governors to «just go out and challenge your cabinet members to reach into the bureaucracy and take a look at where the spending is occurring.»
doge,louisiana,elon musk,taxes
INTERNACIONAL
La Asamblea Nacional de Francia aprobó un proyecto de ley que prohíbe el acceso a las redes sociales a menores de 15 años
La Asamblea Nacional de Francia aprobó el lunes un proyecto de ley que prohíbe el acceso a las redes sociales a los menores de 15 años y veta el uso de teléfonos móviles en los institutos, con el objetivo de que la medida entre en vigor desde el inicio del próximo curso escolar.
Tras un debate que se extendió hasta pasada la medianoche, los diputados respaldaron el texto con 130 votos a favor y 21 en contra. El proyecto, tramitado por el procedimiento de urgencia, pasa ahora al Senado, cuya aprobación resulta necesaria para su aplicación a partir del 1 de septiembre.
Durante la discusión parlamentaria, la diputada oficialista Laure Miller, una de las impulsoras de la iniciativa, defendió la prohibición con el argumento de que “no se puede dejar que un niño tenga que gestionar algo adictivo (las redes) por sí solo”. En su intervención, aludió a los algoritmos que conducen a los menores hacia contenidos vinculados con tendencias suicidas y de automutilación, con especial énfasis en TikTok.
“Prometía incentivar la creatividad y la alegría y ha sucedido todo lo contrario”, afirmó Miller ante el pleno. La parlamentaria sostuvo además que los estudios científicos muestran que, a causa de las redes sociales, los menores “duermen menos, se mueven menos, leen menos y se comparan más” entre sí.
Entre las intervenciones del Gobierno, destacó la del ministro de Educación, Edouard Geffray, quien celebró la restricción de los teléfonos móviles prevista para los institutos, tras la prohibición decretada en 2018 en secundaria, primaria y preescolar. “Esta medida ha tenido efectos positivos, tanto en el ambiente escolar como en el aprendizaje”, expresó el ministro, al tiempo que lamentó que una gran parte de los jóvenes “pasen más tiempo semanal viendo pantallas que en horas lectivas”.
Antes de la votación final, la Asamblea rechazó una moción de inadmisión presentada por el principal partido de izquierdas, La Francia Insumisa, que calificó la prohibición de “inaplicable” y sostuvo que “no cambia nada”.
El diputado Louis Boyard, de 25 años, expuso sus objeciones al sistema de verificación de edad con ejemplos concretos. “¿Saben cómo es sencillo evitarla? En Australia, basta con que alguien con aspecto de más de 18 años se preste para el reconocimiento facial en el lugar del menor. O que el menor se maquille para parecer de más edad”, señaló.
La propuesta legislativa responde a un impulso político del presidente Emmanuel Macron, quien reclamó un trámite acelerado para su adopción con el objetivo de proteger a los menores. El mandatario celebró en la red social X el avance del proyecto y afirmó: “Porque el cerebro de nuestros hijos no está en venta. Ni a las plataformas estadounidenses ni a las redes chinas. Porque sus sueños no pueden estar dictados por algoritmos. Porque no queremos una generación ansiosa, sino una generación que crea en Francia, la República y sus valores”.
La futura norma consta de dos artículos y busca fijar un marco “claro” sobre el uso del móvil y de las redes sociales para los menores de 15 años. Así lo expresó Macron en un video difundido la víspera por la cadena BFMTV, en el que reiteró la prioridad del Ejecutivo para lograr un consenso parlamentario amplio en un contexto marcado por la falta de mayoría en la Asamblea Nacional.
En otra intervención pública, el presidente subrayó: “El cerebro de nuestros niños y de nuestros adolescentes no está en venta. Las emociones de nuestros menores y de nuestros adolescentes no se venden ni se manipulan, ni por las plataformas estadounidenses ni por los algoritmos chinos”.
El Gobierno fundamenta la iniciativa en informes sanitarios que advierten sobre los efectos psicológicos de las redes sociales en la población menor de edad. A comienzos de este año, la Agencia Francesa de Seguridad Alimentaria, Ambiental y Laboral (ANSES) publicó un informe que señaló que plataformas como TikTok, Snapchat e Instagram perjudican gravemente la salud mental de los adolescentes.
Según la ANSES, los riesgos incluyen la comparación constante, la exposición a contenidos violentos, los mecanismos de captación de la atención que alteran el sueño y el ciberacoso. Estos elementos forman parte del diagnóstico utilizado por el Ejecutivo para sostener la necesidad de una regulación más estricta.
La ley también deberá ajustarse al reglamento de servicios digitales de la Unión Europea, requisito que busca evitar el bloqueo que sufrió una iniciativa similar en 2023, orientada a fijar la mayoría digital en los 15 años y que no se aplicó por su incompatibilidad con ese marco normativo comunitario.
(Con información de AFP)
Government / Politics
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As this weekend’s blizzard blew through the Empire State, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul received blowback for her response to an offer of federal assistance from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, whose office oversees FEMA.
State snowfall totals topped 22 inches in West Shokan, Ulster County, outside Saugerties, while New City received 17.5 inches, Golden’s Bridge near the Connecticut line in Westchester County received 16.5 inches, Huguenot on Staten Island received 14 inches, and Levittown on Long Island received 13 inches, according to the National Weather Service.
Instead of confirming she accepted DHS’s offer to help, Hochul indicated she took the opportunity to criticize federal immigration enforcement:
«Secretary Noem offered assistance to New York ahead of the impending snowstorm,» Hochul said over the weekend.
POTENTIAL GOP CHALLENGER WARNS HOCHUL THAT A CORPORATE TAX HIKE WOULD BE A ‘DISASTER’ FOR NEW YORK’S ECONOMY
«I shared that the fastest way to help is for ICE to back off so people feel safe accessing warming centers, shelters, hospitals, and houses of worship.»
Her response was not well received by several prominent New Yorkers and New York entities.
«Worst governor in history,» the Staten Island Young Republicans said in a statement on X.
TRUMP BRIEFED ON BORDER PATROL-INVOLVED SHOOTING AS MINNEAPOLIS MAYOR DEMANDS END TO ENFORCEMENT OPERATION
NYC Scoop, a popular account sharing events and happenings in New York City, similarly fumed at the governor.
«You literally just told a U.S. Cabinet Secretary offering FREE blizzard relief to f— off because ICE might make your illegal alien constituents feel ‘unsafe’,» NYC Scoop said.
«You’re not a governor. You’re a border checkpoint for cartels. Resign, you treasonous ice queen.»
LARA TRUMP SLAMS TIM WALZ, JACOB FREY FOR ‘FANNING FLAMES’ WHILE RED STATES COOPERATE WITH ICE
Conservative strategist and former Ted Cruz staffer Steve Guest said the governor is «prioritizing politics over her constituents, and people are already dying.»
Guest included a screenshot of a WNBC report of three New Yorkers who had died from the sub-freezing temperatures during the storm.
When asked about the tweet, White House spokesman Kush Desai rebuked the governor:
«What a surprise — while President Trump and his entire Administration have taken steps to ensure all Americans have the resources they need to recover from this historic winter storm, Democrats instead are, once again, prioritizing the well-being of criminal illegal aliens.»
Republican Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman responded in a statement, saying that the governor — who he is challenging this year — «actually rejected federal assistance that was offered to help keep people safe.»
MILLIONS BRACE FOR ‘CATASTROPHIC’ ICE AS 18 STATES DECLARE EMERGENCY AMID HISTORIC WINTER STORM
«When lives are at risk, you don’t turn down help,» Blakeman said.
Another X critic compared the situation to New York’s underuse of military medical ships docked off Manhattan during COVID-19, saying that Democrats did not want to dignify them because President Donald Trump sent them.
However, a source familiar with the situation said Hochul never rejected federal assistance and that all storm-related requests from local governments were supported by Albany.
Hochul later tweeted a call for U.S. Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino to be fired and for Noem to resign.
HOCHUL CONFRONTED ICE AGENT, SAID HE WAS ‘TERRORIZING PEOPLE’ BY WEARING A MASK
NYS Div. of Homeland Security commissioner Terry O’Leary, left, listens, as New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, right, briefs New Yorkers on snow preparedness. (Lori Van Buren/Albany Times-Union via Getty Images)
«[Noem] has forfeited her right to lead,» Hochul said, further suggesting Bovino is acting as if he is «above the law.»
Later Monday, she also said that President Donald Trump’s dispatch of Border Czar Tom Homan to Minnesota won’t undo «harm» done by his administration.
In a lighter message, Hochul quipped that as a «governor from Buffalo,» she knows how to handle a snowstorm.
The eyes of the nation often see the kind of hefty snowfall that accumulates in the western New York area during televised Buffalo Bills games in the NFL playoffs.
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«Push it out of the way — no strain on the back doing that… don’t lift much; smaller bits, OK — don’t do a big pile and fill this up because that can lead to a heart attack,» Hochul said in the clip.
In response to Blakeman’s retort, Hochul campaign spokesperson Ryan Radulovacki told Fox News Digital, «After blaming Renée Good for her own killing by ICE, Bruce Blakeman is showing New Yorkers yet again that there’s no low he won’t stoop to for Donald Trump – no matter how far he goes to trample over Americans’ rights.»
«New Yorkers want a governor with a backbone who will protect our state from Trump’s abuses of power, not a spineless coward who defends violence against Americans when it suits him politically,» Radulovacki said.
Fox News Digital reached out to Hochul for comment on the criticisms, and to DHS for comment on the situation.
kathy hochul,immigration,illegal immigrants,new york,kristi noem,donald trump
INTERNACIONAL
Skier suffers brutal mauling after stepping within 10 feet of snow leopard for photo, video shows
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A female skier was viciously mauled by a snow leopard on Friday after approaching the predator too closely for a photo, according to chilling footage of the incident.
The encounter, which left the woman’s face severely bloodied, occurred around 7 p.m. in Fuyun County, along China’s northern border with Mongolia, according to Jam Press.
Footage shows a woman, who reportedly edged as close as 10 feet to the leopard, lying motionless in the snow as the predator hovered nearby after the mauling. Witnesses then appeared to help guide her away as blood poured from her face.
Local reports noted that the woman miraculously survived partly because her helmet helped prevent more serious harm.
OREGON CHILD ATTACKED BY COYOTE DURING GAME OF HIDE-AND-SEEK IN BACKYARD, STATE OFFICIALS SOUND ALARM
A snow leopard remains near an injured skier lying in the snow after a mauling in Fuyun County, China, on Jan. 23, 2026. The woman was later rescued and hospitalized. (Jam Press)
Authorities previously issued warnings after multiple people reported animal sightings near the hotel the day before, according to Jam Press. The leopard was believed to be lingering around the area due to a lack of food.
Reports indicated that a skier spotted the leopard while making her way back to the hotel. When she was unable to get a good angle for a photo, she reportedly kept approaching until the leopard pounced and mauled her face. The predator was eventually driven off by a ski instructor waving his poles.
The injured skier was transported to a local hospital for treatment and was reported to be in stable condition.
BEAR REMAINS UNDER CALIFORNIA HOME AFTER WEEKS OF FAILED REMOVAL ATTEMPTS
Skiers assist a woman after she was mauled by a snow leopard in Fuyun County, China, on Jan. 23, 2026. (Jam Press)
In the days leading up to the attack, authorities had warned visitors of multiple snow leopard sightings in the area. While snow leopards on humans are historically rare due to the animals’ shy and elusive nature, officials noted that the big cats still possess «aggressive tendencies» and urged tourists to avoid lingering or approaching them for photos.
«Recently, snow leopard activity has been detected in Gem Valley, Keketuohai,» the warning said, according to Jam Press. «Snow leopards are large predators with strong aggressive tendencies. When passing through this area, please move quickly and do not linger. Do not get out of your vehicle or approach to take photos, and never walk alone in the surrounding area.»
KNIFE-WEILDING NUT ALLEGEDLY ASKED CHRISTIAN HIS RELIGION – THEN STABBED HIM AND DOG BEFORE POLICE SHOT HIM
A snow leopard is seen roaming through deep snow near a ski area in Fuyun County, China, on Jan. 23, 2026. (Jam Press)
Tourists staying at a nearby guesthouse confirmed that they saw a leopard in the area prior to the attack, according to the outlet.
«We saw it last night, a few kilometers from where the attack took place, but we can’t confirm if it’s the same snow leopard,» one witness said.
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China is home to the largest population of wild snow leopards in the world, according to the Snow Leopard Trust, with the country harboring the majority of the global population.
An investigation into the attack is ongoing.
china,mammals,travel,wild nature
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