ILLINOIS DOGE

Illinois Politics| Business and Economy | Featured

January 13, 2026•4 min read

Illinois in the Dark

As a new transparency effort pulls back the curtain, decades of secrecy and scandal come sharply into focus

By Staff Writer
January 13, 2026

For decades, Illinois government has carried a reputation that residents joke about quietly—and outsiders mock openly. From prison-bound governors to backroom deals and ballooning budgets few can fully explain, corruption in Illinois has become more than a political problem. It has become a national punchline.

At the heart of that reputation is a persistent lack of transparency in government spending. Taxpayers send billions of dollars to Springfield every year, yet meaningful answers about where that money goes—and who benefits—have often been buried in bureaucracy, obscure authorities, and political silence.

Now, one gubernatorial candidate says that era is over.

Republican candidate for governor Darren Bailey has launched what he calls Illinois DOGE, a transparency and accountability initiative aimed at exposing waste, fraud, and abuse in state government. Unlike traditional campaign promises that wait for Election Day, Bailey says he is acting now—before voters head to the polls.

“You don’t stop government waste by trimming the leaves. You gotta pull it out by the roots,” Bailey said.
“Tomorrow our transparency site goes live so taxpayers can finally see where their money is going… and what needs to be pulled.”

That site, known as the Illinois DOGE Transparency Tracker, went live Monday. Within hours, it dropped what Bailey’s campaign calls its first major disclosure—and it landed with explosive force.

A $180 Million Question

According to data published by the tracker and first reported by Illinois Review, Illinois taxpayers have funded more than $180 million in improvements tied to the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place between 2011 and 2025.

The revelation immediately raised alarms because of the hotel’s connection to Democratic Governor JB Pritzker, whose family controls Hyatt Corporation.

The initial disclosure highlighted $8.8 million in taxpayer spending during Fiscal Year 2023 for what was labeled “Hyatt hotel infrastructure improvements.” But further records show that figure represents only a fraction of a much larger flow of public money.

Those funds were routed through the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA), a state-created entity financed by special hotel, food, and beverage taxes paid by Illinois residents, visitors, and small businesses.

While MPEA technically owns the property, Hyatt operates the hotel under a management agreement that includes a percentage of gross revenue and incentive fees tied directly to profitability.

In plain terms: when taxpayers fund major upgrades, Hyatt profits—and so does the Pritzker family.

Not Routine Repairs

Documents show that in December 2024 alone, MPEA approved a $59.5 million renovation covering all 1,258 guest rooms at the hotel. That followed an earlier 2024 project renovating more than 93,000 square feet of common areas, including meeting rooms, corridors, and restrooms. Construction is scheduled to continue into early 2027.

The $8.8 million flagged by Bailey’s tracker appears to cover core infrastructure upgrades—HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems—investments that significantly increase the property’s value and revenue potential.

Critics argue these are not routine maintenance expenses. They are capital improvements that directly benefit a politically connected private operator.

Over the same period, Illinois families faced property tax increases exceeding 20 percent, soaring energy bills driven by state mandates, and a pension crisis topping $50 billion.

Oversight Under Scrutiny

Adding to the controversy is the structure of MPEA itself. Governor Pritzker appoints nearly half of the authority’s board members, raising serious questions about independence and oversight. There is no blind trust arrangement and no formal recusal process governing decisions involving Hyatt-related investments.

Democratic leaders have defended the spending as economic development. Critics call it something else entirely: crony capitalism.

Bailey does not mince words.

“Illinois DOGE is here to audit, expose, and prosecute,” Bailey posted online.
“If you stole from taxpayers, you’re not just going to be embarrassed. You’re going to prison.”

A State Long Accustomed to Silence

For many Illinois residents, the revelations confirm what they have long suspected—that the real story of state spending has been hidden in plain sight, shielded by complexity and political power.

Bailey’s transparency tracker has begun to change that, shining light on financial arrangements that previously drew little public attention.

Whether the initiative leads to prosecutions or policy change remains to be seen. But one thing is already clear: the era of quiet assumptions may be ending.

Calls seeking comment from Governor JB Pritzker’s office regarding the disclosures and potential conflicts of interest have gone unanswered.

As Illinois DOGE continues to publish findings, the question facing voters is no longer whether corruption exists—but how much more remains hidden, and who has benefited from the darkness.