The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE): Persistence Amid Disbandment Rumors

By [AI Editor]

Despite persistent reports of its collapse, the "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE)—a coalition of tech-savvy operatives affiliated with Silicon Valley and Elon Musk’s ecosystem—remains deeply embedded in federal agencies, driving systemic reforms rooted in private-sector efficiency, deregulation, and workforce modernization. The group’s ethos, characterized by "cutting contracts, consolidating data, and importing Silicon Valley practices," persists across agencies, with members now holding senior roles in the IRS, Treasury, CDC, and White House, among others.

DOGE’s Embedded Operatives: A Network of Tech Professionals

DOGE, initially composed of young, inexperienced technologists—including Yat Choi (a former Airbnb engineer), Edward "Big Balls" Coristine, Gavin Kliger, Marko Elez, Akash Bobba, and Ethan Shaotran—has expanded its reach into federal agencies since its 2024 inception. These individuals, many with ties to Musk’s companies (xAI, SpaceX) or Silicon Valley, continue to operate under the DOGE banner across departments.

Choi, for example, who joined DOGE this spring, documented his work in a viral Instagram slideshow, posting clips of Trump administration officials dancing on the White House lawn and private jet departures, alongside references to returning to a Pennsylvania mine to process federal retirement claims. His bio now links to both DOGE and the White House’s National Design Studio (NDS), indicating ongoing government engagement.

Other core members remain affiliated: Coristine and Kliger, for instance, identify as DOGE members on their social media profiles, while Langmack (a former DOGE operative at the Department of Housing and Urban Development) now leads "deregulation AI" efforts at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

Agency-Level Impact: Silicon Valley Practices in Government

DOGE’s influence is most visible in agencies where its operatives have secured senior roles, reshaping workflows and institutional priorities:

• IRS Modernization: Sam Corcos, a DOGE operative and Treasury Department Chief Information Officer, has spearheaded the IRS’s first-ever coding proficiency tests for existing technical staff. Administered via HackerRank—a tool used by Airbnb, LinkedIn, and PayPal to screen tech talent—the tests aim to overhaul the agency’s 8,500-person IT division, marking a shift from traditional civil service evaluation to Silicon Valley-style skill assessment. IRS sources described the tests as "notable" and "unprecedented," with employees unaware of how results will be used or why the mandate was issued.

• Deregulation and AI Initiatives: Scott Langmack, now executive director of "deregulation AI" at OMB, leads efforts to build custom AI applications to eliminate regulatory barriers for businesses. At the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Sam Beyda—with no public health experience—serves as deputy chief of staff to CDC leadership, following a background in cannabinoid manufacturing and ties to his father-in-law’s organization.

• White House National Design Studio (NDS): Airbnb cofounder Joe Gebbia, DOGE’s former lead on federal retirement system reform, now oversees the NDS—a White House entity tasked with redesigning government digital services. DOGE operatives, including Coristine, now staff NDS, where they recently launched the Trump administration’s "Genesis" AI mission, an Energy Department initiative to build an AI platform for scientific research.

Disbandment Rumors: A Shift in Narrative, Not Disappearance

In late August, Reuters reported DOGE "disbanded," citing statements from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) that the group was no longer a centralized entity. However, internal sources and official statements contradict this claim.

• OPM and Agency Responses: Scott Kupor, OPM director and former Andreessen Horowitz partner, dismissed the rumors, stating DOGE’s "principles of deregulation, eliminating fraud, and reshaping the workforce" are now institutionalized across agencies. The DOGE X account echoed this, posting, "As usual, this is fake news from @Reuters. President Trump was given a mandate to modernize the federal government and reduce waste, fraud, and abuse," alongside claims of cutting $335 million in contracts.

• Musk’s Confirmation: In an October interview with Joe Rogan, Musk confirmed DOGE’s continuity, stating, "DOGE is still happening... there is still waste and fraud being cut by the DOGE team." He added, "Now that I’m not in DC, they don’t really have a person to attack anymore," implying his removal from active oversight has not halted operations.

Conclusion: A Persistent Reform Movement

DOGE’s operatives, embedded in agencies like ticks, continue to advance their agenda. As Choi noted in his Instagram bio—pinned to a banner reading, "We do this not because it is easy, but because we thought it would be easy. and we STILL think its easy!"—the group’s mission persists, even amid rumors of disbandment. The agency-level changes initiated by DOGE—from IRS coding tests to NDS digital overhauls—suggest Silicon Valley’s influence on federal governance remains deeply entrenched.

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