Key Takeaways
- The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has disbanded with eight months left to its mandate, ending an initiative launched by President Donald Trump to slash the government’s size.
- Critics say DOGE delivered few measurable savings, and the agency’s claims of slashing tens of billions of dollars in expenditures could not be verified due to a lack of detailed public accounting.
- The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has taken over many of DOGE’s functions, and former DOGE employees have moved on to new roles in the administration.
- The Trump administration has signaled DOGE’s demise in public statements, and the agency is no longer a "centralized entity."
- Despite the end of DOGE, the administration is still working towards slashing regulations and eliminating federal government jobs.
Introduction to DOGE’s Demise
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has disbanded, ending an initiative launched by President Donald Trump to slash the government’s size. The agency was set up in January and made dramatic forays across Washington in the early months of Trump’s second term to rapidly shrink federal agencies, cut their budgets, or redirect their work to Trump priorities. However, critics say DOGE delivered few measurable savings, and the agency’s claims of slashing tens of billions of dollars in expenditures could not be verified due to a lack of detailed public accounting.
The End of DOGE’s Functions
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has taken over many of DOGE’s functions, according to OPM Director Scott Kupor. Kupor stated that DOGE is no longer a "centralized entity," and the agency’s functions have been absorbed by other departments. At least two prominent DOGE employees are now involved with the National Design Studio, a new body created through an executive order signed by Trump in August. The studio is headed by Joe Gebbia, co-founder of Airbnb, and is tasked with improving the "visual presentation" of government websites.
The Fading Away of DOGE
The fading away of DOGE is in sharp contrast to the government-wide effort over months to draw attention to it. Trump, his advisers, and cabinet secretaries posted about DOGE on social media, and Elon Musk, who led DOGE initially, regularly touted its work on his X platform. Musk even brandished a chainsaw to advertise his efforts to cut government jobs, stating, "This is the chainsaw for bureaucracy." However, despite the fanfare, DOGE’s demise was signaled by Trump administration officials, who have been talking about the agency in the past tense.
Former DOGE Employees’ New Roles
Former DOGE employees have moved on to new roles in the administration. Jeremy Lewin, who helped Musk and the Trump administration dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development, now oversees foreign assistance at the State Department. Zachary Terrell, part of the DOGE team given access to government health systems, is now chief technology officer at the Department of Health and Human Services. Rachel Riley, who had the same access, is now chief of the Office of Naval Research. These new roles suggest that the administration is still working towards its goals of slashing regulations and eliminating federal government jobs.
The Administration’s Continued Efforts
Despite the end of DOGE, the Trump administration is still working towards its goals of slashing regulations and eliminating federal government jobs. The White House budget office has tasked Scott Langmack, who was DOGE’s representative at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, with creating custom AI applications to pore through U.S. regulations and determine which ones to eliminate. Musk has also reappeared in Washington, attending a White House dinner for Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. These efforts suggest that the administration is committed to its goals, even if DOGE is no longer a part of the equation.
Conclusion
The demise of DOGE marks the end of an initiative launched by President Donald Trump to slash the government’s size. While critics say DOGE delivered few measurable savings, the administration is still working towards its goals of slashing regulations and eliminating federal government jobs. The end of DOGE also marks a shift in the administration’s approach, with former DOGE employees moving on to new roles and the OPM taking over many of DOGE’s functions. As the administration continues to work towards its goals, it remains to be seen what the impact will be on the government and the country as a whole.