On his first day in office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order establishing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), appointing billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk as its leader. The new department, which replaces the United States Digital Service (USDS) with the United States DOGE Service, aims to streamline federal government operations and reduce waste.
“That’s a big one,” Trump remarked during the signing, adding that Musk would lead a team of approximately 20 staff members in the Executive Office of the President. DOGE’s creation fulfills Trump’s campaign promise to modernize federal government systems and cut excessive regulations.
The executive order directs every federal agency to form DOGE Teams within 30 days, consisting of at least four employees: a team lead, an engineer, a human resources specialist, and an attorney. These teams will coordinate efforts with the USDS, now part of the president’s office, to implement the DOGE agenda.
“DOGE will modernize federal technology and software to maximize governmental efficiency and productivity,” the order states, signaling a pivot from Trump’s initial goal to use DOGE as a vehicle to dismantle bureaucracy, slash regulations, and restructure federal agencies.
Trump described DOGE as “‘The Manhattan Project’ of our time,” referring to the World War II program that developed the first atomic bombs. Musk echoed this sentiment, previously estimating that DOGE could cut $2 trillion in federal spending. However, he has since revised expectations, suggesting the group may achieve half that target.
Initially, Trump named Musk and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy as co-leaders of DOGE, but Ramaswamy will reportedly leave the role to launch a gubernatorial campaign in Ohio.
“It was my honor to help support the creation of DOGE,” Ramaswamy said. “I’m confident that Elon & team will succeed in streamlining government.”
The initiative faces significant challenges, according to former U.S. Comptroller General David Walker, who has warned of the federal government’s dire financial position.
“The debt subject to the debt limit is $36.2 trillion, and total liabilities and unfunded social insurance obligations exceed $125 trillion!” Walker said. “It’s time for action to create a better future.”
DOGE’s preliminary plans are set to be presented to Trump by July 4, 2026, aligning with the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Trump described the vision as “a smaller government, with more efficiency and less bureaucracy,” which he called “the perfect gift to America.”
The department’s launch has not been without controversy. Several lawsuits were filed immediately after its creation, with groups alleging violations of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). Critics, including Public Citizen and the American Federation of Government Employees, argue that DOGE lacks balanced viewpoints, holds meetings in secret, and fails to make its records publicly accessible.
“The secrecy surrounding DOGE’s operations is unacceptable,” said a spokesperson for Public Citizen.
Additional lawsuits have been filed by organizations such as the Center for Biological Diversity and Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, demanding greater transparency in DOGE’s operations and public access to its records.
Responding to the legal challenges, Musk wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “Can someone start a lawsuit counter? How long until we hit triple digits?”
Despite the criticism, Trump and Musk remain optimistic about DOGE’s potential to address inefficiencies and reshape federal government operations for the 21st century.
