Governor pushes efficiency, suggests block-grant approach to federal cuts and defends OETA veto

At a weekly availability press conference the governor discussed state efficiency measures, urged a block-grant approach if federal funding to states is cut, and defended vetoing a funding deal for OETA, which he said would have saved roughly $5 million.

Describing an initiative he called “Doge Okay,” the governor said he has been in conversation about how to structure federal funding cuts so states can manage them. “If you're gonna cut 10% of what you're given to the state of Oklahoma, my theory is we need to help out with that. And we need to say, okay. Elon, if you're gonna cut 10% of what you're given to the state of Oklahoma, here's the scalpel approach,” he said, adding that FEMA block-grant discussions were planned.

He cited internal efficiency steps taken in his administration, including reducing the state vehicle fleet and expecting fewer state employees by the time he leaves office. “If you look at my employee count... I'm a I'm a I'm a smaller government, flat budgets, give the money back to the people,” he said. He also said he vetoed an OETA funding deal he described as unnecessary and quantified as about $5,000,000.

The governor framed these measures as part of a broader fiscal-conservative agenda and contrasted state efficiency steps with federal deficits. He discussed national debt levels in general terms to justify tightening budgets and said state-level savings and reductions are part of preparing for potential federal funding changes.

No specific new budget line items, contract awards, or formal directives tied to these comments were recorded in the transcript.