Elon Musk (File photo)
Around 100 days after Elon Musk’s exit from the Trump administration, federal staff continue to struggle with the ongoing effects of his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The impact of this extraordinary challenge to federal administration is likely to persist.Operating from a basic office near the White House, Musk led an assertive capture of key government departments. His approach was precise – utilising compact groups of technology specialists to methodically break down the country’s civil service of over 2 million people.According to the Partnership for Public Service, a non-aligned Washington DC organisation, approximately 200,000 civil servants have departed from federal employment to date.Many workers, including numerous military veterans, experienced severe distress, with established careers suddenly ended and their professional contributions deemed insignificant.After Musk’s notable disagreement with President Trump this spring, DOGE has largely ceased operations. “Not much” endures from the initial programme, stated Max Stier, president and CEO of the Partnership for Public Service. “It’s a little bit like Godzilla having flattened the city and left,” Stier told AFP. “Godzilla is gone, but there’s still a flattened city.”After the public rift, Musk now calls the US government “basically unfixable”, concluding that politicians across parties will oppose budget reductions that might upset constituents and supporters.Most DOGE executives departed following Musk, including Steve Davis, his reliable deputy who directed teams infiltrating government offices and systems to implement cost reductions.Nevertheless, some personnel remain within federal departments, working as standard employees whilst maintaining influence, making their actions less visible. “Don’t misunderstand the lack of the loud face that was Elon Musk to think they have disappeared,” cautioned one Pentagon employee, speaking confidentially to prevent repercussions. “DOGE is still alive and causing a ruckus.”Several allies of Elon Musk now hold key roles in the federal government. Airbnb co-founder and Tesla board member Joe Gebbia is leading a redesign of government websites. At the Social Security Administration, CIO Aram Moghaddassi faces a whistleblower claim that his team exposed a massive database on a vulnerable cloud server. Investor Brad Smith, who once left DOGE after budget cuts at the Department of Health and Human Services (now led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.), has returned to direct global health work at the State Department. Former Andreessen Horowitz partner Scott Kupor heads the US Office of Personnel Management, while his ex-boss Marc Andreessen remains influential in the White House. Other Musk loyalists hold junior posts, including Edward “Big Balls” Coristine, whose assault in Washington reportedly spurred Trump to deploy the National Guard. DOGE’s identity is increasingly blurred. “The question of, how do you define DOGE? Who is DOGE? has gotten a lot more complicated,” said Faith Williams of the Project on Government Oversight. Officially led by acting chief Amy Gleeson, much of its mission has shifted to Russell Vought at the Office of Management and Budget. Civil liberties advocate Cindy Cohn warns DOGE’s work now happens “behind a curtain,” with whistleblowers and ex-staff alleging hidden mismanagement and risks.
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