It remains unclear exactly what, precisely, the so-called “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) is. The Trump administration first described this Elon Musk-led project as a non-governmental advisory entity, then presented it via Executive Order as a technology-focused office inside the White House (a repurposing of the U.S. Digital Service) and simultaneously a new governmental Temporary Organization.[1] Since then, Musk’s amorphous DOGE has sent detailees (some very young and inexperienced)[2] into various departments to seize reams of data or to embed themselves inside the agencies, worked to unilaterally dissolve key agencies, and facilitated the reckless slashing of staff throughout the government.[3] DOGE is carrying out its destructive rampage under the guise of targeting “inefficiencies,” but in reality Musk and DOGE have gutted essential government services that everyday people rely on, ignoring actual inefficiencies.[4]
The makeup and mandate of DOGE may be murky, but one thing is abundantly clear: Elon Musk has leveraged the project to ascend to power within the federal government.[5] President Trump and the administration have hemmed and hawed about Musk’s exact role while serving as a “special government employee,” but he quite plainly has been driving the DOGE agenda.[6]
Yet even while functioning as the most powerful actor in the federal government outside of the president, Musk has continued to lead multiple large companies that contract with and are regulated by federal agencies.
Reportedly, Musk is slated to soon take a step back from DOGE.[7] As he is potentially on his way out of the Trump administration, it is useful to mark the departments and agencies that his DOGE project has targeted during his tenure, and which overlap with his personal business interests.