WASHINGTON — The newly established Department of Government Efficiency, an initiative spearheaded by President Donald Trump aimed at reducing federal spending, has now officially become part of the federal government that it was created to streamline.
On his first day in office, Trump signed a series of executive orders, which included one that rebranded the U.S. Digital Service to the U.S. DOGE Service. This order mandated the incorporation of DOGE within the Executive Office of the President.
Initially set up by President Barack Obama in 2014, the Digital Service aimed to modernize governmental technological systems. Its primary goal was to fix the numerous glitches that hampered the launch of HealthCare.gov, the website linked to Obama’s renowned health care initiative, which has faced considerable criticism from Trump over the years.
The establishment of DOGE prompted a commitment to slash billions from the federal budget. During the announcement of the Department of Government Efficiency in November, Trump emphasized the importance of providing insights and guidance from outside government circles. Originally led by Tesla CEO Elon Musk and former presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy, the duo pledged to significantly reduce federal expenditure and initiate substantial layoffs within the federal bureaucracy.
However, Ramaswamy stepped down from DOGE this week to consider a gubernatorial run in Ohio. Following this transition, a government website, doge.gov, was launched coinciding with Musk’s account on X, the social media platform he owns. The site identifies itself as an “official website” of the U.S. government, featuring stark white text against a black backdrop that declares, “The people voted for major reform.” The website has also showcased various memes, including those of the DOGE logo alongside patriotic imagery and others celebrating the cryptocurrency dogecoin and its mascot, a Shiba Inu named Kabosu.
Integrating DOGE into the federal system could enhance its ability to access cross-agency information, and it may conduct various aspects of its operations privately, while still being subject to some disclosure laws. For example, the Executive Office of the President does not have to comply with many Freedom of Information Act regulations but is obligated to maintain records under the Presidential Records Act.
The level of public transparency required from DOGE may soon face scrutiny. A lawsuit was filed shortly after Trump took office, claiming that DOGE’s activities prior to the administration’s official start violated the Federal Advisory Committee Act, which demands that advisory committees adhere to public disclosure practices. Groups backing the lawsuit, including transparency advocates and watchdog organizations, are now evaluating Trump’s recent order that integrates DOGE into the government.
“There were significant concerns surrounding the way it operated, characterized by a lack of transparency,” remarked Skye Perryman, CEO of Democracy Forward, an organization that challenges governmental actions in court. “It continues to be mired in various legal predicaments.”
As part of the executive order, Trump has also created a provisional organization within DOGE that is set to expire on July 4. This initiative may facilitate the hiring of temporary staff or enlistment of volunteers who might not be held to the ethical and transparency standards typical of federal employees. However, even these individuals must still adhere to conflict of interest laws as stipulated by federal regulations.
Musk has suggested that volunteers will play a significant role in DOGE’s operations. In a November post on X, he announced the agency’s search for “super high-IQ small-government revolutionaries willing to work 80+ hours per week,” hinting that some roles might be unpaid.
Although Trump’s order does not directly reference Musk, his involvement in DOGE now raises the possibility of violating federal conflict-of-interest regulations unless he disassociates from his businesses or steps back from government dealings involving them. However, the parameters requiring such recusal are not clearly defined.
One potential solution for Musk to navigate this situation could involve him becoming a “special government employee,” which would allow him to serve in a federal position for a limited period. So far, the new administration has not provided any details regarding Musk’s potential official role in DOGE. Noah Bookbinder, president of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, noted that while such a move wouldn’t eliminate ethics and transparency rules, it could modify how they are applied.
“There remains a great deal of uncertainty,” Bookbinder stated, as his organization is among those pursuing legal action against the Trump administration concerning DOGE. “A significant aspect is the lack of clarity on how these changes will unfold after this order has been issued.”
