Department of Government Efficiency

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) , }} is an initiative of the second Trump administration tasked with cutting federal spending which it characterizes as "waste, fraud, and abuse". It emerged from discussions between Donald Trump and Elon Musk, and was established by executive order on January 20, 2025. DOGE's actions have included accessing government data systems; organizing mass layoffs of federal workers; and cutting climate change initiatives, scientific research, and DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) programs. The initiative has targeted federal agencies including the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Department of Education, Social Security Administration (SSA), and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Musk's role within DOGE is unclear. The White House has denied, in media and in courts, that Musk is running DOGE and that he is making government decisions; it asserted that he was only a senior advisor to the president. Trump insists that Musk is the head of DOGE, and courts have declared that he must be its ''de facto'' leader. Formerly known as the U.S. Digital Service, "USDS" now abbreviates U.S. DOGE Service and comprises the U.S. DOGE Service Temporary Organization (USDSTO), which is scheduled to be dissolved on July 4, 2026, the country's 250th anniversary. The acting administrator of USDS and USDSTO has been named by the White House as Amy Gleason, not Musk.

DOGE has been met with opposition and lawsuits. A federal judge found that Musk's role likely violates the Appointments Clause, and legal experts have warned of a constitutional crisis. Democratic Party members have challenged DOGE's authority, with some calling its actions a "coup". Musk did not divest from companies that are receiving billions in government contracts and are clashing with federal regulators DOGE is trying to slash, creating potential conflicts of interest. Musk has promised transparency while Trump has tried to exempt DOGE from public disclosure rules. The White House has said that DOGE complies with federal law, and that Musk would "excuse himself" if DOGE activities conflicted with his business interests.

Musk has stated a goal of cutting $1 trillion, or about 15% of the federal budget. As of March 24, 2025, DOGE has claimed to have saved $130 billion. Independent analysis has found that DOGE's reports misaccounted tens of billions of dollars, with more than a third of canceled contracts already obligated or yielding no savings. Musk, DOGE, and the Trump administration have made multiple claims of having discovered significant fraud, none of which have held up under scrutiny. According to watchdogs, DOGE is redefining fraud to target federal employees and programs to build political support for their cuts; former Republican budget experts said DOGE cuts were driven by political ideology more than frugality. Despite widespread criticism, Trump has reiterated his support for Musk and DOGE. Provided by Wikipedia