This page is edited by Charles s. Konigsberg, JD, former Assistant Director at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and Counsel for the Senate Finance, Budget, and Rules Committees. OMB is an office within the Executive Office of the President, with about 500 employees (mostly career), that is the President’s mechanism for managing federal government operations and expenditures, and prepares the President’s budget requests to Congress. See also our page following Federal Workers.
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 de facto 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.
For weekly updates on federal and OMB developments, please sign up today for our weekly column, “Trillions,” at: https://fedbudgetguy.substack.com
Fri, Feb 21, 2025:
Federal judge temporarily blocks parts of Trump’s EO targeting DEI – WP
DOGE claims are “full of accounting errors, outdated data and other miscalculations.” – NYT
Musk’s blitzkrieg is unnerving many of Trump’s senior advisers – WP
Thurs, Feb 20, 2025:
Musk’s mass firings are already backfiring – WP
Wed, Feb 19, 2025:
Agencies self identify billions in improper payments. Addressing it is the hard part. – WSJ
Senate Approps Chair fires warning shot at Trump on spending – Politico
Tues, Feb 18, 2025:
Trump signs order to claim power over independent agencies – Politico
Judge refuses to block Musk, DOGE from 7 federal agencies – The Hill
What we know about the federal awards in Trump’s crosshairs – Politico
– Highways, disaster response, school lunches, broadband access in the crosshairs.
Mon, Feb 17, 2025:
Top Social Security official exits after clash with DOGE over attempts to access sensitive data–WP
Musk ridiculed a blind person on X; then a mob went to work. X, has given him a powerful tool to attack individuals who criticize DOGE. – WP
What would a Federal funding freeze mean to state and local governments – the numbers – TPC
Friday, Feb 14, 2025:
Musk’s Tesla & SpaceX relied on undocumented workers while he pushed for border crackdown –Bloomberg
Wed, Feb 12, 2025:
Trump says DOGE found tens of billions in savings. Not even close. – WP Fact Checker
Reagan/Bush counsel explains why DOGE is unconstitutional – WP
Musk’s DOGE cuts based more on political ideology than real cost savings so far – Reuters
Tues, Feb 11, 2025:
FEMA official ignores judge’s latest order, demands freeze on grant funding – NBC
Schumer: Democrats will use spending bills to curb DOGE – The Hill
The CFPB took aim at Big Tech. Then Musk moved to dismantle it.– WP
Mon, Feb 10, 2025:
Trump allies suggest defying court orders after stinging legal rebukes – WP
Federal judge says Trump administration has been violating court order to disburse grant funding – WP
Farmers on the hook for millions after Trump freezes USDA funds; WH had said freeze would not affect benefits going to individuals – WP
DOGE announces $881 million in cuts for DoEd contracts – Politico
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
Sun, Feb 9, 2025:
Russell Vought: the man on a divine mission to traumatise US bureaucrats – FT
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:
WH forces showdown over Congress’ power of the purse; The confirmation of Russell T. Vought to lead the powerful White House budget office is likely to escalate the funding fights roiling Washington and the nation – NYT
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:
Senate confirms Russell Vought to lead White House budget office – WP
Firebrand Vought confirmed as White House budget director; party-line vote – Roll Call
Dems hold Senate floor overnight to protest Trump’s OMB nominee; vote likely Thursday pm – RollCall
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:
EO would establish US sovereign wealth fund – Roll Call (Editor’s note: this is a PR exercise; the US is running massive deficits–there are no excess federal tax or tariff revenues to invest)
Federal Judge in DC extends order blocking Trump funding freeze – AP
Dems want funding freeze blocked in 2025 funding deal – Politico
West VA independent living agency disrupted by OMB funding freeze – Roll Call
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 – WP
Fri, Jan 31, 2025: US District Court John McConnell of Rhode Island granted a temporary restraining order providing that the Administration “shall not pause, freeze, impede, block, cancel, or terminate… awards and obligations to provide federal financial assistance to the States, and… shall not impede the States’ access to such awards and obligations” except as authorized by statute, regulation or terms of the award. US District Court for the District of Rhode Island
- The Court also prohibits the Administration from re-issuing the freeze under another guise or via individual agencies and requires the Administration to provide written notice of the restraining order to all agencies by 9am Monday.
- The Court found that the Administration’s action “unilaterally suspends the payment of federal funds to the States and others simply by choosing to do so, no matter the authorizing or appropriating statute, the regulatory regime, or the terms of the grant itself. The Executive cites no legal authority allowing it to do so; indeed, no federal law would authorize the Executive’s unilateral action here.”
- The Court found that the Administration’s action violates the constitutional separation of powers and the Administrative Procedure Act, and is contrary to Congress’ intent in funding the various programs.
- Moreover, the Court stated that the Administration’s claim “that the Executive Branch has a duty ‘to align Federal spending and action with the will of the American people as expressed through Presidential priorities,’ is a constitutionally flawed statement. The Executive Branch has a duty to align federal spending and action with the will of the people as expressed through congressional appropriations, not through ‘Presidential priorities.’”
- The Court further noted that the Administration failed to follow the notification procedures established by the Impoundment Control Act under which Presidents may temporarily pause funding or seek to rescind funding.
- Finally, the Court quoted Justice Kavanaugh’s 2013 opinion when he was on the DC Circuit that with respect to “the suggestion that the President has a constitutional power to decline to spend appropriated funds, we must conclude that existence of such a broad power is supported by neither reason nor precedent.”
Thurs, Jan 30, 2025: WH rescinded funding memo after GOP senators ‘hit the ceiling’ – The Hill
Wed, Jan 29, 2025:
Judge open to halting Trump freeze on federal grant funds; lawsuit from nearly two dozen states challenges now-rescinded memo – Roll Call
White House rescinds freeze on federal grants – WashPost
“In a memo dated Wednesday and distributed to federal agencies, Matthew J. Vaeth, acting director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, states that OMB memorandum M-25-13 “is rescinded.’ That order, issued Monday, instructed federal agencies to “temporarily pause all activities related to obligations or disbursement of all federal financial assistance.”
OMB rescinded the spending pause – JD Supra
OMB Rescinds Memo Pausing Federal Financial Assistance, But White House Asserts Funding Freeze in Executive Orders Remain Effective – National Law Review
Tues, Jan 28, 2025:
Also on Tuesday, a separate lawsuit was filed on Tuesday, 1/28, by Democratic state attorneys general challenging the spending freeze in federal district court in Rhode Island.
Federal judge delays Trump spending freeze until Feb. 3 – WashPost
Federal Judge Blocks Trump’s Freeze of Federal Grant Funds – NYT
Judge temporarily pauses Trump’s freeze on grants, loans – Reuters
OMB issues clarification fact sheet – OMB
Background: Trump’s spending freeze – WashPost
DeLauro, Murray raise alarm on new OMB memoranda, efforts to defy federal law, Constitution to withhold approved federal funding – Ranking Members DeLauro and Murray
Mon, Jan 27, 2025: OMB issued Memorandum M-25-13 re: Temporary Pause of Agency Grant, Loan, and Other Financial Assistance Programs stating in part: “…Career and political appointees in the Executive Branch have a duty to align Federal spending and action with the will of the American people as expressed through Presidential priorities….This memorandum requires Federal agencies to identify and review all Federal financial assistance programs and supporting activities consistent with the President’s policies and requirements….Federal agencies must temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all Federal financial assistance, and other relevant agency activities
that may be implicated by the executive orders, including, but not limited to, financial assistance
for foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, DEI, woke gender ideology, and the green new
deal….The temporary pause will become effective on January 28, 2025, at 5:00 PM….Each agency must pause: (i) issuance of new awards; (ii) disbursement of Federal funds under all open awards; and (iii) other relevant agency actions that may be implicated by the executive orders, to the extent permissible by law, until OMB has reviewed and provided guidance to your agency with respect to the information submitted.” See JD Supra for additional background.
Fri, Jan 24, 2025:
Trump suggests eliminating FEMA during N. Carolina visit – CNN
State Dept freezes new funding for nearly all US aid programs worldwide – AP
Deficit hawk Chip Roy and Trump are on a collision course – Politico
Trump’s budget pick, Russ Vought, is starting to upend Washington – WashPost
“Already, Trump has taken steps to implement policies Vought previously supported: Beginning Monday, the president issued orders to freeze some federal funding, block diversity initiatives and make it easier to fire career government employees….Trump and his GOP allies…face rapidly approaching fiscal deadlines: Republicans must act to prevent a government shutdown, with funding set to expire in March, and raise the nation’s debt ceiling to ensure that Washington does not default on its obligations this spring….’The president ran on the notion that the Impoundment Control Act is unconstitutional,’ Vought said, referring to the 1970s law that limits the White House’s ability to withhold funds. ‘I agree with that.'”
Wed, Jan 22, 2025:
Trump’s budget pick is famous for defying Congress; GOP senators want him anyway – Politico
Trump made DOGE part of the govt. Here’s what that might mean – AP
Tues, Jan. 21, 2025: Here are the executive actions and order signed on Day 1 – WashPost
A rundown of Trump’s executive actions, from tariffs to immigration – Bloomberg
Disagreements with Elon Musk prompted Ramaswamy’s DOGE exit – WashPost
Mon, Jan. 20, 2025:
6 takeaways from Trump’s inaugural address – WashPost
How Musk helped boot Ramaswamy from DOGE – Politico
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.”
Wed, Jan 15, 2025: Russell Vought Poised to Expand Power of WH Budget Office – NYTimes
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
Sat, Dec 14, 2025: Trump’s executive order strategy: Go ahead, sue me – WashPost
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
Fri, Nov 22, 2024: Trump picks Project 2025 co-author Vought to lead WH Budget Office – CNN
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