Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency Disbanded
WASHINGTON, Nov. 23 — President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is set to close, with just eight months remaining in his term. Initially launched to illustrate the president’s commitment to shrinking government, critics argue it has not yielded significant savings.
“That doesn’t exist,” said Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Cooper when asked about the current status of DOGE, reflecting a general sentiment about its effectiveness.
In the first official remarks regarding DOGE’s termination, Kupol stated that it’s no longer considered a “centralized organization.”
Created in January, the agency aimed to swiftly reduce the size of federal agencies and align operations with Trump’s priorities. Many of DOGE’s roles have been absorbed by OPM, as indicated by Kupol and supporting documents.
Two notable DOGE officials are currently engaged in the National Design Studio, a new entity established by an executive order from Trump in August. This organization is led by Joe Gebbia, co-founder of Airbnb, who was tasked with enhancing government website aesthetics.
Interestingly, Gebbia is part of Elon Musk’s team associated with DOGE, while another employee, Edward Coristine—who has a colorful nickname—urged his followers on social media to apply for new positions.
The disbanding of DOGE starkly contrasts the months of promotional efforts by the Trump administration. Both Trump and his team frequently highlighted DOGE on social media, with Musk, who once led the initiative, actively promoting his plans to reduce government employment. At a political gathering earlier this year, he famously held a chainsaw, emphasizing his desire to cut bureaucratic inefficiencies.
DOGE had claimed to achieve spending cuts amounting to tens of billions, but independent financial analysts found it hard to confirm this, as the agency failed to produce detailed public accounts of its activities.
White House Press Secretary Liz Houston asserted in an email that President Trump remains committed to eliminating waste and fraud within the government.
Signals of DOGE’s End
Even after Musk and Trump had a public fallout in May, administration officials did not acknowledge that DOGE had fully ceased to exist, although Musk has since departed from Washington.
Despite an executive order from Trump intended to prolong DOGE’s existence until July 2026, hints about its ending have been cropping up since this summer.
In various remarks, Trump has referred to DOGE in the past tense. Acting DOGE Secretary Amy Gleason has transitioned to a role as an advisor in the Department of Health and Human Services.
Efforts to create something comparable to DOGE persist in several Republican-controlled states, even while DOGE’s broader features, like the government-wide hiring freeze, have ended. Shortly after taking office, Trump restricted new federal hires except in specific essential areas.
“There are no longer any targets for reductions,” Kupol noted.
Changes in Administration Roles
Some former DOGE employees have taken on new responsibilities within the administration. Gebbia, for instance, is focused on improving how government websites present information.
His studio has recently initiated a campaign to hire law enforcement in Washington, D.C., alongside promoting Trump’s initiatives on drug pricing. Although his office declined to comment for this article, the new direction is clear.
Other DOGE team members have moved on as well; Zachary Terrell is now the chief technology officer at the Department of Health and Human Services, while Rachel Riley has been appointed director of the Office of Naval Research, according to official sources.
Jeremy Lewin, who was involved in dismantling the U.S. Agency for International Development, has transitioned to overseeing foreign aid at the State Department.
Shortly after Trump’s election, Musk expressed his desire to strip away excessive government regulations, pinpointing DOGE’s focus on deregulation and the integration of AI into government processes.
Efforts to trim regulations are ongoing. Scott Langmack, a former DOGE member, has been tasked with developing an AI application to evaluate and possibly eliminate U.S. regulations.
Musk made another appearance in Washington this week, attending a dinner at the White House for Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
