DOGE is dead
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an initiative aimed at streamlining federal operations under the Trump administration, has officially been dissolved, marking the end of a controversial chapter in U.S. governance. The demise of DOGE, which took place quietly after the departure of its de facto leader Elon Musk in May 2023, comes more than seven months ahead of its originally scheduled conclusion in July 2024. Scott Kupor, director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), confirmed the organization’s dissolution earlier this month, stating that DOGE “doesn’t exist” and is no longer a centralized agency. The functions previously managed by DOGE have now been absorbed by the OPM, the federal government’s primary human resources agency.
DOGE was established with the ambitious goal of enhancing government efficiency and reducing costs, a mission that ultimately led to significant job cuts—approximately 280,000 federal workers were laid off by April 2023. Despite the drastic measures taken, including the dismantling of various government agencies, the projected savings from these actions fell far short of expectations. Initially, Musk claimed that DOGE would save the U.S. government up to $2 trillion, a figure that was later revised to a more modest $150 billion. However, reports indicate that the actual savings were negligible, prompting many of the dismissed employees to be asked to return to their positions. The turbulence within DOGE, especially following Musk’s exit amid a public fallout with Trump, left the organization fractured and directionless, leading to its eventual dissolution.
As Kupor noted, while DOGE as an organization is no longer operational, its principles—such as deregulation, the elimination of fraud and waste, and the reshaping of the federal workforce—will continue to influence government operations through other agencies, including the OPM and the White House Office of Management and Budget. Amy Gleason, who served as DOGE’s acting administrator, still lists her role on LinkedIn, despite the official termination of the initiative. The end of DOGE serves as a reminder of the complexities and challenges associated with government reform efforts, particularly those that rely on sweeping changes and the reduction of workforce numbers to achieve efficiency.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRpfTjFGer4
The
Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)
is no more. The initiative has been quietly dissolved since the
departure of de facto leader Elon Musk in May
, coming to an end over seven months earlier than scheduled.
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Reuters reports
that Office of Personnel Management (OPM) director Scott Kupor confirmed DOGE’s demise earlier this month, stating that it “doesn’t exist” and is no longer a “centralised agency.” Many of DOGE’s functions have instead been taken over by OPM, as per documents sighted by Reuters. OPM is the U.S. federal government’s human resources agency and personnel policy manager.
Kupor appeared to criticise Reuters’ article on X, while simultaneously confirming its veracity. DOGE as an organisation is indeed dead, though Kupor stressed that its “principles” continue to persist.
“The truth is: DOGE may not have centralized leadership under [the U.S. DOGE Service, previously known as the U.S. Digital Service],”
wrote Kupor.
“But, the principles of DOGE remain alive and well: de-regulation; eliminating fraud, waste and abuse; re-shaping the federal workforce; making efficiency a first-class citizen; etc. DOGE catalyzed these changes; the agencies along with [OPM] and [the White House Office of Management and Budget] will institutionalize them!”
White House official Amy Gleason was DOGE’s acting administrator
, technically holding the position even as Musk operated as its de facto head. As of writing, her LinkedIn page still lists her role at DOGE as ongoing.
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Officially launched
in one of the first acts of President Donald Trump’s second term, DOGE’s purported purpose was to increase government efficiency by cutting costs. This predominantly translated to cutting jobs, with DOGE
laying off approximately 280,000 federal workers
by April. Multiple government agencies were thrown into chaos, with some
shut down or dismantled entirely
.
Yet despite this turmoil, the widespread upheaval failed to reap the benefits promised. While Musk had claimed DOGE’s actions would save the U.S. government at least $2 trillion, by April he’d
revised this goal down to $150 billion
. Unfortunately, even this seems to have been an overshot, with DOGE’s actual savings
reportedly a mere fraction of this fraction
. Hundreds of fired federal employees have
since been asked to return.
DOGE was initially scheduled to conclude its work on July 4 next year, 18 months after its inception. However, DOGE’s activity stalled after Musk departed in May,
the billionaire leaving amidst a public falling out with Trump
. The organisation
fractured in the aftermath
, Musk’s departure apparently leaving DOGE’s staff of
recent college graduates
and
Musk loyalists
without unifying direction. Now it seems DOGE has finally dissolved entirely.
