Trump Begins Staffing for the Department of Government Efficiency

President Donald Trump has begun revealing appointments for the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a cost-cutting initiative initially co-led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy but now solely managed by Musk. The purpose of DOGE, which was outlined in an executive order, has shifted focus from drastically cutting the federal budget and deregulating to modernizing the technology systems used by federal agencies; however, the exact operational details of DOGE remain somewhat ambiguous.

In the previous month, both Musk and Ramaswamy discussed specifics about DOGE’s functioning, indicating a desire to create a small advisory board composed of advocates for smaller government. According to announcements from DOGE's account on X, they are seeking to fill a limited number of paid roles in areas such as engineering, human resources, IT, and finance, although Musk has previously indicated that many positions may be volunteer-based. Involvement from prominent figures in Silicon Valley, alongside the participation of regular citizens, is also suggested.

Despite these developments, the detailed organizational structure of DOGE remains largely undefined, with further information about staffing gradually being released. Trump's executive order has stipulated that each federal department should form a four-person team dedicated to DOGE activities led by an "Agency Head." As of now, there has been no confirmation from Musk regarding whether he will take on the role of DOGE leader or who will fill out the teams within the various agencies. Requests for comments from representatives of Trump and Musk went unanswered.