DOGE was a promise. A promise made by Donald J. Trump during his campaign leading up to the 2024 U.S. presidential election. From the beginning of president Trump’s second administration, the Department of Government Efficiency was established. The main objective of this organ is simple: increase governmental efficiency by reducing federal spending. Elon Musk, head of DOGE, appointed by Trump, is the wealthiest person in the world. He is formally a businessman known for his key roles in Tesla inc., SpaceX and the‘old’ Twitter, but what exactly does Elon Musk have to do with the presidency of the red, white and blue federal republic? And what about DOGE?
Elon Reeve Musk, born on June 28, 1971, in Pretoria, South Africa is a billionaire entrepreneur and CEO of several companies, including the ones aforementioned. Musk studied physics and economics at the University of Pennsylvania in the United States, earning a degree in both specializations. After his studies, Musk founded an array of software companies, such as Zip2 and X.com, currently referred to as PayPal. SpaceX and Tesla followed shortly after; the former with the goal of reducing space travel costs and colonizing Mars, the latter focusing on revolutionising electric vehicles and the employment of sustainable energy sources. Musk thereafter additionally purchased Twitter, renaming it X.The tech billionaire inevitably rose to prominence in the business and public sphere, asserting a dominant influence in the technology and political landscape. His contribution, at times controversial, naturally created opportunities for interactions with high-level government officials, including the U.S. president. During Trump’s first administration, Musk served as a member of the economic advisory council, which he ultimately resigned from. The relationship between Donald Trump and Elon Musk dates back several years, although the two have held opposing views on issues including economic policies, climate change and trade. Nevertheless, after the assassination attempt on Trump, Musk began to publicly endorse the Republican Party through his American Political Action Committee, donating $277 million, making him the country’s largest political donor.
In relation to economics and more specifically innovations in the financial field, in 2013, Dogecoin arose: a cryptocurrency created by software engineers Billy Markus and Kackson Palmer, inspired by the “Doge” meme. On one hand, Musk directly influenced the currency’s rise in price and increased popularity, referring to it frequently through tweets and public mentions as the “people’s currency”. Subsequently, it became a mainstream cryptocurrency. On the other hand, Trump has been vocal about his skepticism towards digital currencies, questioning their value and labelling them as “a scam”. While Musk was the catalyst behind Dogecoin reaching the global stage, the U.S president’s minimal influence on its development has fueled the overall debate surrounding the legitimacy of cryptocurrencies in the financial context.
Notwithstanding, the similarity between the name of the newly established Department of Government Efficiency and the cryptocurrency, as well as the role of Musk in the latter’s promotion, the two have no official relation. Despite the acronym does allude to the internet meme, the concept of digital currencies is not currently incorporated in the organ’s remit. So, what is DOGE?
The concept of DOGE emerged in a conversation between Trump and Musk, where the second-mentioned proposed an audit of the federal government and the creation of an advisory body intended for streamlining government efficiency. Despite prior efforts—including Theodore Roosevelt’s Keep Commission and Ronald Reagan’s Grace Commission— failed, Trump moved forward with the initiative. On January 20, 2025, an executive order established the Department of Government Efficiency, through the reorganization of the existing United States Digital Service (USDS) agency. The president-elect announced that Musk, alongside Vivek Ramaswamy, an American biotech entrepreneur, would head DOGE. However, Ramaswamy promptly resigned after the inauguration, leaving the South African billionaire to take the lead.
According to Trump’s order, the principal goal of the newly established department is to “moderniz[e] Federal technology and software to maximize governmental efficiency and productivity”, aiming to save taxpayers’ money and reduce national debt, currently standing at $36 trillion. To achieve this, DOGE was tasked with dismantling bureaucratic procedures, restructuring governmental agencies and reducing the federal workforce.Located in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, DOGE operates with circa 40 employees, mostly drawn from Musk’s companies, with minimal experience in government. The organ’s agenda is implemented by the U.S. DOGE Service Temporary Organization (USDSTO), a body also established by the presidential directive. Both DOGE and USDSTO are overseen by acting administrator Amy Gleason, however, Elon Musk is broadly perceived as the driving force of the department. The answer to the question: “Is Elon Musk a government employee?” is yes, but as an unpaid ‘special government employee’. This post entails someone “who works, or is expected to work, for the government for 130 days or less in a 365-day period”, and thus may circumvent some obligations required of full-time employees.
Despite its name, DOGE is not a cabinet-level department, which would require an act of Congress for its establishment. Additionally, its creation is characterised by a temporary nature: the purpose to “terminate itself”. This signifies that the objective of improving government efficiency has to be performed to the extent that such a department will ultimately no longer be necessary. Its expiration date is scheduled for the 4th of July, 2026, which would coincide with America’s semiquincentennial anniversary.
Since its inception, DOGE has introduced several drastic changes. The modifications that have occurred to date include taking control of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and sending resignation offers to over two million federal employees, as well as gaining access to key financial databases at the Treasury Department. Shutting down the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), halting foreign aid programs and forcing employees on administrative leave is another drastic measure that has encountered serious backlash. Moreover, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), together with other agencies were negatively affected by monetary deductions and the cancellation of contracts.
Numerically, the temporary department’s website states that DOGE has saved U.S. taxpayers $105 billion as of March 5, though these savings remain unverifiable, and have been subject to mistakes. Overall, these specific actions demonstrate Elon Musk’s growing power in the political realm, especially in the United States, sparking controversy.
These unprecedented changes together with the vague mandate granted by the executive order, are factors that garner considerable scrutiny. The federal workforce reductions have led to lawsuits from labour unions and public services, and the undefined competences have generated uncertainty about its legal authority. Moreover, Elon Musk’s leadership alone is a markedly contested issue. Founded on concerns about accountability, his negligible experience in government paired with a lower degree of oversight compared to other government officials is deemed questionable. The public opinion in the United States is mixed; judgments on Elon Musk are polarising; many believe Musk may be exploiting DOGE in ways that benefit his private enterprises. Therefore, the shared support for reducing government inefficiency is contrasted by the apprehension about Musk’s role and DOGE’s initiatives, raising challenges like the ones listed above and more.Elon Musk’s role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency under Trump’s second administration marks a significant shift in his influence from the business world to politics. While DOGE aims to streamline government operations and reduce federal spending, its rapid and drastic measures—such as mass federal downsizing and gaining access to personal data—have provoked legal and ethical concerns. Despite controversy, Musk’s growing political presence and direct involvement in U.S. governance highlight his increasing power beyond the private sector, raising questions about the future impact of his influence on American as well as global politics.
By Virginia Narjes