The Trump administration has officially disbanded the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a cost-cutting unit previously led by Elon Musk, months before its mandate was meant to end.
According to Reuters, the breakup brings an abrupt end to the high-profile, controversial effort that began in January when President Trump created DOGE through executive order. The initiative was intended to run for nearly two years, focusing on eliminating waste, reducing fraud, and trimming federal staffing.
By early November, DOGE “doesn’t exist”, confirmed Scott Kupor, director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Kupor later clarified on X that although the unit no longer has centralized leadership under the U.S. Digital Service, its guiding principles, deregulation, cutting waste, reshaping the federal workforce, would continue.
Amy Gleason, DOGE’s acting administrator, reacted with humor on LinkedIn, posting a Doge meme captioned “I’m alive.”
A Controversial Legacy
While DOGE claimed it saved the government billions in taxpayer dollars, critics argue the unit caused widespread damage. Legislators and watchdogs say DOGE dismantled federal programs without delivering real, measurable savings.
The biggest backlash centered on DOGE’s role in the shutdown of USAID, the U.S. agency that provides humanitarian and disaster relief. Critics say the closure contributed to countless deaths worldwide.
The unit was also accused of accessing sensitive federal databases and mishandling personal data belonging to millions of Americans, raising concerns about national security and privacy vulnerabilities.
Leadership Turmoil and Staff Concerns
Elon Musk exited DOGE earlier this year following a public fallout with President Trump. According to Politico, some former DOGE staffers now fear potential legal exposure without Musk’s protection, including the possibility that he could have influenced presidential pardons.
Some team members have since moved into roles at other federal agencies, while others have left government entirely. One well-known staffer, Edward Coristine, nicknamed “Big Balls”, confirmed in June that he is “officially out” of DOGE.
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With DOGE now shuttered, questions remain about the long-term impact of its cuts, its handling of sensitive data, and what comes next for the workers who once formed its controversial core.
