The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was not merely a concept but a structured entity designed to embed itself deeply within the federal government's operational landscape. Established by executive order, its framework included a permanent and a temporary component, alongside specialized teams intended to integrate directly into existing agencies. A core aspect of DOGE's mission was to gain control over and modernize U.S. government digital
systems, aiming to centralize technological oversight and implement significant reforms. This operational approach, however, also led to concerns regarding data access, privacy, and the extent of its authority.
Organizational Structure and Team Integration
On January 20, 2025, an executive order (E.O. 14158) by Donald Trump formally established the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency. This order delineated a specific structure for DOGE, comprising three main components: the U.S. Digital Service (USDS), which was re-designated as the U.S. DOGE Service; the U.S. DOGE Service Temporary Organization, an entity within USDS slated for termination by July 4, 2026; and specialized DOGE teams designed to coordinate with other federal agencies. The new USDS was granted extensive access, including "full and prompt access to all unclassified agency records, software systems and IT systems" to the "maximum extent consistent with law."
The concept of a "DOGE team" was central to its operational strategy. These teams, consisting of at least four employees—typically a team lead, an engineer, a human resources specialist, and an attorney—were embedded within all federal agencies. Members of these teams, who could be special government employees, were determined by agency heads in consultation with the USDS administrator. These team leads played a crucial role in new career appointments and in deciding whether vacant positions would be filled, providing monthly hiring reports to the USDS administrator. This structure allowed DOGE to exert influence over staffing and operational decisions across the government.
Controlling and Modernizing Digital Systems
A significant part of DOGE's purpose was to control and modernize U.S. government digital systems. Within three weeks of the second Trump presidency, DOGE had reportedly gained "unprecedented access to a swath of U.S. government departments," including agencies responsible for managing data on millions of federal employees and systems handling trillions of dollars in payments to Americans. This access was facilitated by the USDS administrator, who also headed the DOGE temporary organization and was tasked with leading a government-wide software modernization initiative. Responsibilities included promoting interoperability of agency systems and enabling USDS access to unclassified agency records and systems.
Executive order 14222, Section 3a, specifically tasked DOGE teams with assisting agencies in developing a "centralized technological system." This system was intended to record every payment issued by an agency, complete with justification from the approving employee, and to provide agency heads with a "kill switch" to override decisions. This level of control over digital infrastructure and financial transactions underscored DOGE's ambition to centralize and streamline government operations. The department's reach extended to critical agencies such as the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the General Services Administration (GSA), the Department of Treasury (USDT), and the Social Security Administration (SSA), all of which manage vast amounts of sensitive data and financial flows. This pervasive access to government data and systems became a point of both operational leverage and significant controversy.
Personnel and Working Conditions
The personnel within DOGE were a mix of individuals, with investigative journalists reporting that staff included young programmers without prior government experience. Roughly 40 affiliates were tied to Elon Musk, while others came from Silicon Valley, the Trump administration, and the conservative legal movement. By July 2025, ProPublica tracked over 100 DOGE staffers, noting that at least 23 of them had made staffing cuts to agencies that regulated industries in which they had previously worked, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.
Working conditions within DOGE were also notable. Elon Musk claimed that DOGE workers were putting in 120 hours a week, a statement that drew scrutiny for implying dangerously little time for sleep. Reports from within the organization suggested an intense work environment, with one worker stating, "There's one group of people who really have a shot at success, and it's the people here. They're up until 2 am, Monday to Sunday. DOGE does not recognize weekends." Some DOGE workers even appeared to live at least part-time at the office, with offices at the General Services Administration headquarters reportedly converted into sleeping quarters. These conditions highlighted the demanding nature of the work and the dedication expected from DOGE personnel.
