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Department of Government Efficiency

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"D.O.G.E." redirects here. For other uses, see Doge (disambiguation).

Department of Government Efficiency
Proposed Presidential advisory commission
Logo on X as of November 14, 2024
History
StatusAwaiting establishment; seeking employees
Established byDonald Trump
Membership
Chairperson
Jurisdiction
PurposeReduce wasteful spending, and eliminate unnecessary regulations
Policy areas
This article is part of
a series about
Elon Musk
Personal
Companies
Politics
In popular culture
Related
Elon Musk's signature

Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)[note 1] is a proposed presidential advisory commission in the United States. The title is the popularly used moniker of the concept and does not currently represent the official name of the commission. It is tasked with restructuring the federal government of the United States and removing regulations in order to reduce expenditures and increase government efficiency. Despite the name, the Department of Government Efficiency is not planned to be a federal executive department, the creation of which would require the approval of the U.S. Congress.[1]

The committee was announced by Donald Trump, the president-elect, in preparation for his second term as U.S. president. It will be led by the businessmen Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy.

History

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Conception

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The idea of a Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has been linked to Trump's campaign promises to cut federal spending and reduce the size of government and the size of the federal fiscal deficit.[2][3]

The concept of DOGE emerged in a discussion between Elon Musk and Donald Trump, where Musk floated the idea of a department for streamlining government efficiency. In August 2024, Trump said at a campaign event that, if he were elected, he would be open to giving Musk an advisory role.[4] In response, Musk wrote a post on X saying "I am willing to serve", along with an AI-created image of him standing in front of a lectern marked "Department of Government Efficiency".[5] Later, the suggestion was made by Trump of establishing such a department and for it to be headed by Musk.[6][7]

Musk has suggested that the commission could help to cut the U.S. federal budget by up to US$2 trillion through measures such as reducing waste, abolishing redundant agencies, and downsizing the federal workforce. Ramaswamy also stated that DOGE may eliminate entire federal agencies and reduce the number of federal employees by as much as 75%.[8][9] DOGE may attempt to do this through re-enacting Schedule F.[10] Musk has also proposed consolidating the number of federal agencies from more than 400 to fewer than 100.[11]

Musk has described deregulation as the only path to the SpaceX Mars colonization program, and promised he will "get the government off people's back and out of their pocket".[12]

This commission is similar to attempts before it, including President Theodore Roosevelt's Keep Commission, President Ronald Reagan's appointment of J. Peter Grace to lead the Grace Commission, and Vice President Al Gore's National Partnership for Reinventing Government.[13]

Planning and talent acquisition

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On November 5, 2024, Musk suggested that former U.S. representative and two-time Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul could work with DOGE.[14][15]

On November 14, 2024, on social media, Musk called for individuals who were interested in working for the commission to send CVs to DOGE's X account via DM.[16][17]

Congressional Caucus and Subcommittee

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On November 19, 2024, representatives Aaron Bean and Pete Sessions launched the Delivering Outstanding Government Efficiency Caucus to support the DOGE mission.[18]

Plans to create a new congressional subcommittee were announced on November 21 by House Oversight Committee chairman James Comer (R-KY).[19] This new subcommittee will be called the Delivering on Government Efficiency Subcommittee, will be chaired by representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), and will work closely with DOGE to reduce governmental expenditures.[20][21][22][23] On November 22, senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) was appointed to lead the corresponding Senate DOGE Caucus.[24][25]

In December 2024, Ernst proposed a bill dubbed "DRAIN THE SWAMP Act", which would require each executive agency to relocate at least 30 percent of employees working at Washington, D.C., headquarters to offices located outside of the D.C. metro area; while also restricting the ability to telework.[26][27][28]

Bipartisan collaboration

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As of December 2024, representative Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) is the only Democrat to have joined the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency caucus in Congress. He has proposed reorganizing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) by potentially removing agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Secret Service from its jurisdiction. This proposal aims to reduce the size of the DHS.[29]

Functions

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Despite the name, it would not be a federal executive department, which would require an act of Congress to create, instead it will serve as an advisory body operating outside of government.[30] According to CBS News, it may operate under the Federal Advisory Committee Act.[31]

Vox said that the body is "unlikely to have any regulatory teeth on its own, but there's little doubt that it can have influence on the incoming administration and how it will determine its budgets".[32]

Donald Trump said the body would help to "dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures and restructure federal agencies". He also stated that Musk and Ramaswamy will work with the Office of Management and Budget to address what he called "massive waste and fraud" in government spending.[33]

On November 27, 2024, Musk proposed eliminating the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.[34][35]

Lifespan

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According to tweets by Musk and Ramaswamy, the ultimate goal of DOGE is to become so efficient that it eventually eliminates its own necessity. The commission has a set expiration date of July 4, 2026, the United States Semiquincentennial (250th anniversary), which follows Ramaswamy's idea that most government projects should have clear expiration dates.[36]

Trump stated that the entity's work will "conclude" no later than July 4, 2026, the 250th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Declaration of Independence,[37] also coinciding with a proposed "Great American Fair".[38] Trump called the proposed results of DOGE "the perfect gift to America".[39]

Reception

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An infographic on outlays and revenues in the 2023 U.S. federal budget

Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase, the largest American bank, has supported the idea of creating DOGE to improve government competency.[40] Brian Armstrong, CEO of Coinbase, has also spoken in support of the idea.[41]

On October 28, 2024, at a Trump rally in Madison Square Garden, Musk stated that he believed DOGE could remove US$2 trillion from the U.S. federal budget[42] (a figure higher than the federal government's total discretionary outlays in 2023).[43][44][45] Musk has not specified whether these savings would be made over a single year or a longer period.[46] Maya MacGuineas of the public policy organization Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget has said that this saving is "absolutely doable" over a period of 10 years, but it would be difficult to do in a single year "without compromising some of the fundamental objectives of the government that are widely agreed upon".[47]

Questions have been raised whether Musk's and Ramaswamy's companies being contractors to the federal government causes a conflict of interest with their proposed work in DOGE.[48][49][50][51]

The committee has been seen as potentially redundant to the Government Accountability Office.[52]

In December 2024, Senator Bernie Sanders praised Musk on the plans by DOGE to cut defense spending stating that "Elon Musk is right. The Pentagon, with a budget of $886 billion, just failed its 7th audit in a row. It's lost track of billions."[53][54] Democratic congressman Ro Khanna also indicated that he would be open to working with DOGE to reduce defense spending.[53]

Javier Milei, the president of Argentina, stated that, prior to the official announcement of the creation of DOGE, Musk had called Federico Sturzenegger, Argentina's minister of deregulation and transformation of the state, to discuss imitating his ministry's model in the United States.[55]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Pronounced /doʊdʒ/, DOHJ

References

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  1. ^ "What is DOGE? Trump's Department of Government Efficiency led by Musk and Ramaswamy". The Independent. November 14, 2024. Archived from the original on November 19, 2024. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  2. ^ Cooper, Jonathan J. (September 5, 2024). "Trump says he'd create a government efficiency commission led by Elon Musk". Associated Press News. Archived from the original on December 2, 2024. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  3. ^
  4. ^ Shepardson, David (August 20, 2024). "Trump says he may end EV tax credit; is open to naming Elon Musk as an adviser". Reuters. Archived from the original on December 6, 2024. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  5. ^ Cameron, Hugh (August 20, 2024). "Elon Musk 'Willing to Serve' in Trump Cabinet". Newsweek. Archived from the original on October 7, 2024. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  6. ^ "Elon Musk's 'DOGE' gov meme sends political speculation soaring". cointelegraph. September 7, 2024. Archived from the original on November 22, 2024. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  7. ^ Napolitano, Decrypt / Liz (November 17, 2024). "Elon Musk and DOGE: What You Need to Know About the Department of Government Efficiency". Decrypt. Archived from the original on November 22, 2024. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  8. ^ "Trump's meme-ified 'efficiency' 'department' is equal parts cockamamie and conflict". MSNBC. November 13, 2024. Archived from the original on November 17, 2024. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  9. ^ Nelken-Zitser, Joshua. "DOGE wants to 'delete' entire federal agencies, Vivek Ramaswamy says". Business Insider. Archived from the original on November 18, 2024. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  10. ^ Staff, FEDweek (December 10, 2024). "Schedule F and DOGE: A Federal Employment Attorney's Analysis". FEDweek. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  11. ^ "What to know about Trump's Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. November 14, 2024. Archived from the original on November 17, 2024. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  12. ^
  13. ^ Ngo, Madeleine; Fahrenthold, David (November 16, 2024). "Musk Wants to Slash $2 Trillion in Federal Spending. Is That Possible?". New York Times. Archived from the original on November 25, 2024. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
  14. ^ "Ron Paul vows to join Elon Musk, help eliminate government waste in a Trump admin". The Hill. November 5, 2024. Archived from the original on November 9, 2024. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  15. ^ Healy, Patricia. "Elon Musk puts spotlight on ... Department of Government Efficiency? | Cumberland Comment". USA TODAY. Archived from the original on November 10, 2024. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  16. ^ "Department of Government Efficiency on X". X. November 14, 2024. Archived from the original on November 29, 2024. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
  17. ^ Morris, Chris (November 17, 2024). "DOGE applicants will need to pay Elon Musk to send him their resume". Fortune. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
  18. ^ "Congressmen Aaron Bean and Pete Sessions Launch DOGE Caucus | Representative Bean". bean.house.gov. November 19, 2024. Archived from the original on November 22, 2024. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  19. ^ "House Oversight Committee says it plans to form a subcommittee for Trump's 'Department of Government Efficiency'". NBC News. November 21, 2024. Archived from the original on November 21, 2024. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  20. ^ Reporter, Martha McHardy US News (November 22, 2024). "Marjorie Taylor Greene lays out DOGE plan to fire government employees". Newsweek. Archived from the original on November 22, 2024. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  21. ^ "Elon Musk's budget crusade could cause a constitutional clash in Trump's second term". AP News. November 21, 2024. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  22. ^ "Marjorie Taylor Greene to work with Musk's new government efficiency panel". Reuters. November 21, 2024. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  23. ^ Carney, Jordain (November 21, 2024). "House Oversight plans new subcommittee to coordinate with DOGE efforts". Politico. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  24. ^ Tully-McManus, Katherine (November 22, 2024). "Ernst to head new Senate DOGE Caucus". Politico. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  25. ^ "Ernst Creates Senate DOGE Caucus to Eliminate Government Waste | U.S. Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa". www.ernst.senate.gov. November 22, 2024. Archived from the original on November 23, 2024. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  26. ^ "Ernst rolls out next DOGE-inspired bill". Politico. December 19, 2024. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  27. ^ "Ernst Drains the Swamp". www.ernst.senate.gov. September 13, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  28. ^ "Sen. Ernst introduces bill to relocate 30% of federal workforce". ny1.com. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  29. ^ Solender, Andrew (December 13, 2024). "Why some House Democrats are showing interest in Trump and Musk's DOGE plan". Axios. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  30. ^ Dwoskin, Elizabeth (November 12, 2024). "Trump taps Musk, Ramaswamy to oversee 'drastic' changes to U.S. government". Washington Post. Retrieved November 12, 2024. In his announcement, Trump proposed the creation of an advisory body, operating outside government. Though it has the word "department" in its name, it would not be a government department — those are created by congressional authorization.
  31. ^ Picchi, Aimee (November 14, 2024). "What to know about Trump's Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. Archived from the original on November 14, 2024. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
  32. ^ Fayyad, Abdallah (November 13, 2024). "Trump tapped Musk to co-lead the "Department of Government Efficiency." What the heck is that?". Vox. Archived from the original on November 13, 2024. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
  33. ^ Faguy, Ana; FitzGerald, James (November 13, 2024). "Donald Trump picks Elon Musk for US government cost-cutting role". BBC News. Archived from the original on November 13, 2024. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  34. ^ "Elon Musk wants to 'delete' federal financial watchdog as 'DOGE' begins work". Washington Post. November 27, 2024. Archived from the original on November 27, 2024. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
  35. ^ "Musk calls for abolishing consumer finance watchdog targeted by Republicans". Reuters. November 27, 2024.
  36. ^ https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1863666221301764462?t=Dn6eC1wrYWSegIKOgNgcEA&s=19
  37. ^ Nazzaro, Miranda (November 13, 2024). "Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy to lead Trump's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)". The Hill. Archived from the original on December 1, 2024. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  38. ^ Henderson, O. Kay (November 7, 2024). "Trump's 'Great American Fair' idea on Iowa State Fairgrounds recirculates". Radio Iowa. Archived from the original on November 13, 2024. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  39. ^ Brodkin, Jon (November 13, 2024). "Trump says Elon Musk will lead "DOGE," a new Department of Government Efficiency". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on November 26, 2024. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
  40. ^ Bharade, Aditi (September 25, 2024). "Jamie Dimon says he likes Elon Musk's idea to start a DOGE, or Department of Government Efficiency". Business Insider. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  41. ^ Merchant, Murtuza (November 20, 2024). "Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong Backs DOGE Initiative: How Blockchain Could Transform Government Efficiency". Benzinga.
  42. ^ "WATCH LIVE: Trump holds campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in New York" (video). youtube.com. PBS NewsHour. October 28, 2024.
  43. ^ "The Federal Budget in Fiscal Year 2023: An Infographic | Congressional Budget Office". www.cbo.gov. Archived from the original on November 27, 2024. Retrieved November 28, 2024.
  44. ^ "'Department of Government Efficiency' faces daunting task". Voice of America. November 18, 2024. Archived from the original on November 20, 2024. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  45. ^ "Government Wasteful Spending: Department of Efficiency Cutting $2 Trillion". The Law Offices of James L. Arrasmith. November 20, 2024. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  46. ^ Chu, Ben (November 13, 2024). "Can Elon Musk cut $2 trillion from US government spending?". BBC News. Archived from the original on November 13, 2024. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
  47. ^ Folley, Aris (November 3, 2024). "Elon Musk draws skepticism with call for $2 trillion in spending cuts". The Hill. Archived from the original on November 13, 2024. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
  48. ^ Lipton, Eric; Fahrenthold, David A.; Krolik, Aaron; Grind, Kirsten. "U.S. Agencies Fund, and Fight With, Elon Musk. A Trump Presidency Could Give Him Power Over Them". Archived from the original on December 2, 2024. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  49. ^ "Donald Trump picks Elon Musk to lead government's new 'cost-cutting' department". itv.
  50. ^ "Some ethics experts raise concerns over Musk and Ramaswamy's Department of Government Efficiency roles". ABC News. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  51. ^ "Why is Elon Musk becoming Donald Trump's efficiency adviser?". BBC News. November 13, 2024. Archived from the original on December 12, 2024. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  52. ^ Hetzner, Christiaan. "Elon Musk pledges 'maximum transparency' in new DOGE role, complete with suggestion box and leaderboard for worst examples of government waste". Fortune. Archived from the original on November 16, 2024. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  53. ^ a b "Bernie Sanders claims DOGE boss Elon Musk 'is right' over defense spending". Independent. December 2, 2024. Archived from the original on December 6, 2024. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  54. ^ ""Elon Musk is right": Sanders agrees with DOGE head on cutting Pentagon spending". Salon. December 2, 2024. Archived from the original on December 3, 2024. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  55. ^ "Milei brindó un nuevo apoyo a Sturzenegger y afirmó que Elon Musk imitará su gestión en EEUU". infobae (in European Spanish). November 8, 2024. Archived from the original on November 13, 2024. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
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