Buckeye Reporter

Ohio Lt. Governor Jon Husted recently announced the state’s success in eliminating 2.2 million words from its regulatory code as part of an ongoing effort to increase government efficiency. He credited artificial intelligence for playing a key role in this effort and expressed hope that Ohio’s approach would serve as a model for the proposed Department of Government Efficiency.

“We successfully eliminated 2.2 million words from Ohio’s regulatory code, and we are on track to reach 5 million—roughly 1/3 of the code,” Husted wrote in a Nov. 16 social media post on X. “AI technology played a role, and I hope our work in Ohio serves as a model for DOGE efforts at the federal level.”

According to a press release, Husted, along with Senator Steve Wilson and Representative Thomas Hall, is leading an effort to streamline the state’s regulatory framework through the “Innovate the Code” initiative. This program uses artificial intelligence (AI) to identify and remove redundant or outdated regulations in the Ohio Revised Code and Ohio Administrative Code. 

The state partnered with global professional services firm Deloitte to develop the AI tool that analyzes regulatory text to find areas for reduction or simplification. This initiative is projected to save Ohio $44 million over ten years through reduced administrative costs. 

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is a proposed U.S. advisory body announced by President-elect Donald Trump to be led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, aimed at reducing government waste and streamlining federal spending. Although it won’t be a formal executive department, the commission will provide guidance on cutting regulations and reducing the federal budget by up to $2 trillion.

According to his official bio page, Jon Husted was adopted and raised in Northwest Ohio's Williams County. He grew up with a strong foundation in faith, family, and hard work. After excelling as an All-American defensive back and earning advanced degrees from the University of Dayton, Husted contributed to economic development as vice president at the Dayton-Area Chamber of Commerce.

Husted's tenure as Secretary of State was marked by significant improvements in business processes, including reducing start-up costs and eliminating office fees, saving taxpayers millions. As House Speaker, he championed Ohio’s most conservative budget in decades with a historic income tax cut. Elected Lt. Governor in 2018, Husted continues to balance his public service with his roles as a husband to his wife Tina and father to their three children.