Abbott Names Inaugural Efficiency Office Director, New DFPS Commissioner

Gov. Greg Abbott has appointed Jerome Greener as the inaugural director of the Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office (TREO), a newly created entity tasked with cutting red tape and streamlining state regulations across Texas government agencies.

The office, formally established through Senate Bill 14 of the 89th Legislature and referred to by the governor’s office as “Texas DOGE,” operates under the Office of the Governor with a projected budget of $22.8 million over the next five years. It will be supported by at least 18 full-time staff and an advisory panel appointed by the governor.

Greener currently serves as executive vice president at the Texas Public Policy Foundation and brings extensive experience in public policy and advocacy. Prior to joining the foundation in 2020, he led the Texas chapter of Americans for Prosperity and held senior advisory roles with its affiliated political action committee. He holds degrees in politics and business administration from the University of Dallas.

“Jerome is an exceptional choice to lead TREO as it works to ease burdens on Texans and make government leaner, faster, and more accountable,” Abbott said in a statement announcing the appointment.

SB 14 grants the new office broad authority to identify and repeal unnecessary or ineffective regulations, advise state agencies on the regulatory costs of new rules and review mandates such as training requirements to reduce spending. It also eliminates the requirement for courts to defer to agencies’ legal interpretations in disputes over regulations.

A key initiative under Greener’s leadership will be the launch of a public-facing online portal to improve transparency and access to state rules. The platform, developed in partnership with the Department of Information Resources and the Secretary of State, is expected to cost $1.1 million to develop and $654,000 annually to maintain.

TREO is separate from the Sunset Advisory Commission and the Legislature’s Delivery of Government Efficiency Committee, both of which address broader agency reviews rather than ongoing regulatory reform.

In a related update to state leadership changes, Audrey O’Neill, who was named acting commissioner of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) on Aug. 1 following the departure of former Commissioner Stephanie Muth, has now been officially appointed to the role. Her term as commissioner will run through Aug. 31, 2027.