The Department of Government Efficiency began with an ambitious mandate, use technology to streamline and shrink the federal bureaucracy. Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy recruited engineers, lawyers, and tech staff, many from Musk’s own companies, to rapidly drive cost-cutting reforms across federal agencies. From the earliest days, DOGE lacked clear constitutional grounding. Ramaswamy saw it as an advisory body aligned with Congress, while Musk envisioned an aggressive strike force empowered to dismantle agencies he viewed as redundant.
Musk’s Expanding Influence
As President Trump took office, DOGE gained momentum. Musk and operational leader Steve Davis pushed agencies for sweeping cuts, meticulous data access, and structural reforms. High-visibility actions, such as hollowing out USAID and demanding weekly productivity bullet points from federal workers, amplified the internal shockwaves. DOGE’s access to Black SUVs, premium offices, and proximity to the Oval Office symbolized its rising clout.
Growing Backlash and Internal Strains
DOGE’s aggressive approach triggered rising resistance across the federal government. National security agencies warned employees not to comply with certain requests, and Cabinet officials confronted Musk directly. Public frustration spilled into GOP town halls. Behind the scenes, DOGE’s culture relied heavily on Musk’s presence and perceived protection. Creating a fragile dependency among young staffers living inside GSA headquarters.
The Musk-Trump Rift and ITs Shockwaves
“At a gathering in June, Donald Park, a senior DOGE figure, tried to reassure his colleagues that they were still “brothers in arms” and that Musk would continue to protect them. | Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for An American Fantasy“
Everything shifted when Musk and Trump publicly fell out in early June. DOGE staffers, who believed Musk shielded them from political and legal consequences, suddenly felt exposed. As employees left their makeshift living quarters inside GSA, factions began forming. Some wanted to integrate into agencies quietly; others aimed to preserve DOGE’s original disruptive mission.
Factional Warfare and Leadership Crisis
Steve Davis attempted to maintain control despite being dismissed by the White House. He continued issuing directives, prompting internal pushback and an effort by some staff to realign with official channels. A rival group met to discuss DOGE’s future but was purged from signal chats by Davis loyalists. Dozens of employees resigned, burned out by instability and the loss of political cover.
White House Intervention and DOGE’s Fragmentation
The Presidential Personnel Office ultimately moved to dismantle Davis’ influence, instructing employees to cut ties. New leadership, including figures aligned with OMB’s Russell Vought, gradually absorbed DOGE’s policy ambitions. A White House push to install new administrators at GSA further diluted DOGE’s power base, turning the once-central agency into a more traditional bureaucratic institution.
DOGE’s Lingering Influence
Even as its original structure collapsed, DOGE’s ideas persisted. Select members transitioned into specialized roles focused on digital transformation, nuclear expansion, foreign assistance reform, and AI integration across federal agencies. Figures like Joe Gebbia, now U.S. chief design officer, found ways to apply DOGE’s design-forward ethos to government services without replicating its disruptive chaos.
A More Subdued Succesor
By autumn, a quieter and more dispersed version of DOGE had taken shape. Roughly 45 aligned employees continued working under official agency authority, while others fully joined federal departments. Meanwhile, OMB under Vought pursued a more methodical approach to workforce reductions and spending controls. An evolution of DOGE’s original goal but without the spectacle and backlash.
Uncertain Future
As former members reunite in Austin and Musk returns to Washington, speculation persists about a potential revival. Yet those who opposed the internal power struggles are no longer included, reflecting the enduring fractures within the movement. DOGE’s legacy now exists in dispersed pockets of policy work and in ongoing efforts to reshape the federal bureaucracy, but in a more cautious, structured manner.
Reference
Cai, S., & Lippman, D. (2025, November 21). Inside the DOGE Succession Drama Elon Musk Left Behind. Politico. https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2025/11/21/doge-elon-musk-succession-00641110