Governor Kevin Stitt is cranking up the pressure on a longtime rival, formally asking for a special audit of the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office after what he calls a dramatic run-up in staff and spending.
In a written request to State Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd, Stitt said the attorney general’s budget had ballooned in recent years and argued that the trend is serious enough to justify an outside review. He urged Byrd to consider bringing in an independent auditing firm to comb through the office’s finances and approvals.
What Stitt Wants Audited
Stitt’s letter asks Byrd to dig into payroll, contracts and other line items tied to what he described as roughly a 205% budget jump between fiscal years 2023 and 2026, along with what he called a noticeable expansion of staffing in Attorney General Gentner Drummond’s shop.
The governor also zeroed in on more than $20,000 in state funds approved for the Diversity Center of Oklahoma, which his office characterized as offering DEI training, LGBT programming and gender-affirming care for adolescents, according to News On 6.
The Political Backdrop
Attorney General Gentner Drummond, elected in 2022, is already looking ahead to his next move. He is running for governor in 2026 and has publicly tangled with Stitt more than once along the way, as AP News has reported.
The audit request drops straight into that simmering feud, turning a budget dispute into fresh campaign-season ammunition inside the state Capitol.
Byrd’s History With Special Audits
This is not Stitt’s first time asking Byrd’s office to take a hard look at a state agency. The State Auditor & Inspector has already led high-profile special audits in areas like public education and turnpike operations, reviews that have sometimes rippled out into referrals or legislative fixes. Reporting from NonDoc details how those deep-dive examinations typically play out and how their findings can drive policy changes.
What Happens If Byrd Says Yes
If Byrd signs off on Stitt’s request, her office will define the scope of the review and decide whether to hire outside forensic help. State law gives the auditor authority to obtain records needed for this kind of investigation. The special audit process and the usual steps investigators take in these assignments are outlined on the Oklahoma State Auditor & Inspector’s website, according to SAI.
High Stakes For Both Offices
Stitt specifically asked that an independent outside auditor run the examination. The Attorney General’s Office had not immediately answered the governor’s letter, News On 6 reported.
Should auditors uncover improper approvals or misuse of state money, the fallout could include criminal referrals, civil consequences or public legislative hearings.
The move marks another escalation in a very public rift between two of Oklahoma’s most prominent Republicans as a heated election cycle approaches. Observers say whatever Byrd decides, and whatever the auditors find if she proceeds, is likely to become central to the stories both men tell voters as campaign season ramps up.
