DOGE “cut muscle, not fat”; 26K experts rehired after brutal cuts
In a surprising turn of events, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a controversial agency established by Elon Musk to streamline government operations, has been confirmed as officially defunct. This revelation came from Scott Kupor, the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), who stated that DOGE was terminated over eight months earlier than planned. The confirmation follows a peculiar pattern of former President Donald Trump referring to DOGE exclusively in the past tense, raising questions about the agency’s status. Interestingly, the DOGE social media account remained active, posting updates until just two days before the announcement, suggesting a disconnect between the agency’s operational status and its online presence.
The inception of DOGE was marked by ambitious goals to reduce government inefficiencies dramatically. However, as Kupor explained, the need for a centralized agency to oversee these functions diminished after Musk’s departure from the agency in May. Following this exit, the OPM took on many of DOGE’s responsibilities, with staff members being integrated into various government departments. This shift aimed to improve coordination with agency leadership on proposed staffing and funding cuts, indicating a strategic pivot towards a more decentralized approach to government efficiency. The abrupt termination of DOGE raises questions about the future of government reform initiatives and the impact of Musk’s vision on federal operations, underscoring the challenges of implementing sweeping changes within the bureaucratic landscape.
This development serves as a reminder of the complexities and challenges faced when attempting to innovate within government structures. The fleeting existence of DOGE reflects broader discussions about the role of technology and private sector influence in public policy, as well as the difficulties in sustaining reform efforts amidst political and operational shifts. As the government continues to grapple with efficiency and effectiveness, the lessons learned from the DOGE experiment may inform future initiatives aimed at revitalizing public services.
After Donald Trump curiously started referring to the Department of Government Efficiency exclusively in the past tense, an official finally confirmed Sunday that DOGE “doesn’t exist.”
Talking to Reuters
, Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Director Scott Kupor confirmed that DOGE—a government agency notoriously created by Elon Musk to rapidly and dramatically slash government agencies—was terminated more than eight months early. This may have come as a surprise to whoever runs the
DOGE account
on X, which continued posting up until two days before the Reuters report was published.
As Kupor explained, a “centralized agency” was no longer necessary, since OPM had “taken over many of DOGE’s functions” after Musk left the agency last May. Around that time, DOGE staffers were embedded at various agencies, where they could ostensibly better coordinate with leadership on proposed cuts to staffing and funding.
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