Inside DOGE’s ‘hostile takeover’ of the US Digital Service
- On January 20, President Donald Trump signed an executive order establishing the Department of Government Efficiency and publicly tasked Elon Musk to run the initiative, which was situated within the Executive Office of the President.
- The creation of DOGE and its placement within the Executive Office of the President, along with the public association of Elon Musk, led to growing uncertainty and a sense of chaos within the United States Digital Service , an organization created in 2014 to solve IT problems and improve government services.
- USDS, initially comprised of over 160 employees, experienced significant staff reductions, with numbers dwindling to just 79 by March 14, due to firings and resignations stemming from concerns about DOGE's goals and leadership, including a perceived 'loyalty test' and a shift from nonpartisan technical expertise to a 'political vehicle'.
- Former USDS employees and officials express fears that DOGE's actions, including mass cuts, haphazard processes, and a focus on eliminating federal employees to claim government savings, will destroy trust with federal agencies, deter technologists from government service, and ultimately disrupt critical projects related to public health, child tax credits, and veterans' healthcare.
- Despite President Trump publicly stating that Elon Musk heads the DOGE effort, the Trump administration contends in court that Musk serves only as an adviser, while a White House official announced Amy Gleason as acting administrator on February 25, further contributing to a perceived 'vacuum of leadership' and prompting concerns about DOGE's transparency and accountability, as evidenced by FOIA requests and questions surrounding inflated savings claims.
12 Articles
12 Articles
DOGE's Reckless Takeover: A Devastating Blow to USDS - Real News Now
January 20 illuminated President Trump’s administrative prowess as he signed an executive order to establish the Department of Government Efficiency, also known as DOGE. Billionaire Elon Musk was given the reins to manage this initiative. The government insiders, optimistic yet wary, pondered over what this change might bring. This executive order, one of Trump’s first actions after assuming office for the second term, metamorphosed the United S…
Efficiency Agency: Musk anticipates the end of its activities in the U.S. government
As Head of the DOGE Efficiency Agency, billionaire Elon Musk has been making ever new headlines for over two months: mass announcements, the dissolution of entire authorities, the cancellation of government orders. This is supposed to save billions, but it also brought him into criticism. Now he calls a time for the end of his activities.
Inside DOGE’s ‘hostile takeover’ of the US Digital Service
On January 20, as President Donald Trump was signing an executive order formally establishing the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, the initiative he had publicly tasked billionaire Elon Musk to run, the mood from some inside the government was one of cautious optimism.Trumps order, among the first he signed after taking office for the second time, codified DOGE by renaming the United States Digital Service to be the U.S. DOGE Servi…
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