The so-called “Department of Government Efficiency” or DOGE is not a department of the government. President-elect Trump on November 12, 2024 named Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to head up a nongovermental advisory effort aimed at three types of reform: “regulatory rescissions, administrative reductions, and cost savings.” Following Trump’s inauguration on January 20, 2025, Ramaswamy left as co-director of the project and DOGE became an office inside the White House, with Musk as Director; its location in the White House was accomplished by taking over the former U.S. Digital Service which resided in the Executive Office of the President.
Mon, Feb 10, 2025:
Five former Treasury secretaries: our democracy is under siege – NYT
DOGE-backed halt at CFPB comes amid Musk’s plans for “X” digital wallet that would have been subject to CFPB consumer safeguards – Bloomberg
Trump administration argues that courts cannot block Musk’s team from Treasury systems – NYT
“Lawyers for the Trump administration argued late Sunday that a court order blocking Elon Musk’s aides from entering the Treasury Department’s payment and data systems impinged on the president’s absolute powers over the executive branch”
In chaotic Washington blitz, Musk’s goal becomes clear – shrink government, control data and replace the human workforce with machines. – WP
Sat, Feb 8, 2025:
Federal judge blocks Musk’s DOGE from access to Treasury Dept material – WP
Judge lets DOGE access sensitive records at Labor Dept, saying unions hadn’t shown plaintiffs likely to incur injury – WP
Fri, Feb 7, 2025: Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said the Senate’s phones were receiving 1,600 calls each minute, compared with the usual 40 calls per minute. The outpouring of complaints and confusion has put pressure on lawmakers to find out more about Musk’s project, heightening tensions between the billionaire tech mogul and the government. – WP
DOGE deputy to oversee powerful Treasury system as Musk demands cuts – WP
The team behind DOGE’s government overhaul – CNN
Thurs, Feb 6, 2025:
DOGE gains access to health payment systems – WP
Elon Musk’s DOGE is feeding sensitive federal data into AI to target cuts – WP
Administration agrees to restrict DOGE access to Treasury payment systems – RollCall
Wed, Feb 5, 2025:
Why Musk is so focused on the Bureau of the Fiscal Service, America’s Checkbook – NYT
How Musk’s deputies took over the government’s most basic functions – WashPost
Democrats holding Senate Floor for 30 hours blasting Trump and Musk for violations of law and putting Americans in danger – Murray
Musk Is a ‘Special Government Employee.’ What Does That Mean? – NYT
Sen. GOP Approps Chair Susan Collins says she is “concerned” about Elon Musk and the Trump administration’s efforts to control congressional purse strings – Politico
“There’s no doubt that the president appears to have empowered Elon Musk far beyond what I think is appropriate,” she told reporters Wednesday. “I think a lot of it is going to end up in court…. I am concerned if the Trump administration is clawing back money that has been specifically appropriated for a particular purpose,” she said.
White House says Musk will police his own conflicts of interest – Bloomberg
Musk, 53, is the CEO of SpaceX, which has significant government contracts with NASA and the US military. The company’s rocket launches are regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration. He is also the CEO of Tesla Inc., the electric car-maker that has been the subject of probes by several federal agencies ranging from The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to the Securities and Exchange Commission…. “I don’t know of any other case, anywhere, in which an individual could determine for himself whether he had a conflict of interest,” said Donald Kettl… former dean at the University of Maryland School of Public Policy. “In fact, self-determination of a conflict of interest is itself a conflict of interest.”
DOGE targets Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) for what they consider “waste” – Bloomberg
Tues, Feb 4, 2025:
White House opens funding spigot for DOGE expenses w/ $7 million apportionment – Roll Call
Mon, Feb 3, 2025:
Inside Musk’s aggressive incursion into the federal government – NYT
Trump preps order to dismantle Education Dept. as DOGE probes data – WP
Coalition of unions is suing to block DOGE from accessing the Treasury payment system – AP
Musk moves with lightning speed to exert control over government – WSJ
Sun, Feb 2, 2025:
The young, inexperienced engineers aiding Musk’s government takeover – Wired
USAID security officials on leave after trying to keep Musk’s DOGE from classified info – WP
Sat, Feb 1, 2025: Musk allies now have access to a sensitive Treasury payment system – WashPost
Wed, Jan. 22, 2025: Trump made DOGE part of the govt. Here’s what that might mean – AP
Tues, Jan 21, 2025: Disagreements with Elon Musk prompted Ramaswamy’s DOGE exit – WashPost
Mon, Jan 20, 2025: How Musk helped boot Ramaswamy from DOGE – Politico
Mon, Jan 20, 2025: Musk’s “DOGE” sued minutes after Trump inauguration – WashPost
“In a 30-page complaint obtained by The Washington Post ahead of its filing, the public interest law firm National Security Counselors says that the nongovernmental DOGE panel is breaking a 1972 law (FACA) that requires advisory committees to the executive branch to follow certain rules on disclosure, hiring and other practices….The lawsuit alleges that DOGE meets the requirements to be considered a ‘federal advisory committee,’ a class of legal entity regulated to ensure the government receives transparent and balanced advice. These groups, known as FACAs, are required by law to have ‘fairly balanced’ representation, keep regular minutes of meetings, allow the public to attend, file a charter with Congress and more — all steps that DOGE does not appear to have taken.”
Thurs, Jan 9, 2025: Musk says DOGE’s goal to cut $2 trillion in spending is “best-case outcome” – says there’s a good shot of cutting at least $1 trillion from federal expenditures. WSJ [From the GovBudget editor. Sign up for my (free) weekly columns at https://fedbudgetguy.substack.com/ for explanations of why this is neither realistic nor desirable.]
Fri, Jan 3, 2025: Memo to Musk: Overhauling govt isn’t rocket science. It’s harder. George Will
Sat, Dec. 21, 2024: Musk helped kill a congressional spending bill–spreading misinformation – AP
Thurs, Dec 5, 2024: Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy bring Trump’s DOGE to Capitol Hill – AP
Sun, Nov 24, 2024: Musk and Ramaswamy race to build DOGE team – WashPost
Wed, Nov 20, 2024: The DOGE Plan to Reform Government – WSJ Op-Ed, Musk & Ramaswamy
Tues, Nov 12, 2024: Trump taps Musk to lead a “Dept of Govt Efficiency” with Ramaswamy – NPR