As Elon Musk Steps Back, Government Efficiency Push Moves Forward Amid Agency Shakeups

Elon Musk’s high-profile role in President Trump’s administration may be winding down, but the aggressive government overhaul he championed through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is far from over.

From Startup to Government Staple

In less than four months, DOGE has woven itself into the fabric of federal agencies. Musk’s team has placed staff in critical roles, launched efforts to modernize decades-old software systems, and pushed to build a master database of sensitive personal data aimed at speeding up immigration enforcement and cracking down on fraud.

Many DOGE personnel are staying put for the long haul. Some are temporary, limited to 130 days like Musk himself, while others hold renewable one-year contracts or have secured what look like permanent government positions.

A federal employee familiar with the General Services Administration (GSA) told CNN, “There are so many of Elon’s people in already and they are not leaving, so the chaos will continue and nothing will change.”

A Disruptive First 100 Days

DOGE’s impact during Trump’s early months in office has been profound—and controversial. Over 121,000 federal employees were laid off or targeted for layoffs, with thousands more accepting buyouts. Those affected described confusion, forced relocations, and office upheavals. Federal grants and programs were cut drastically, then partially reinstated after court battles.

Despite legal challenges over its sweeping authority, DOGE’s reach has been described as “pervasive.” A senior Justice Department attorney said its mission is “somewhat pervasive, and it’s hard for us to clearly define.”

Can DOGE Sustain Without Musk?

A big question now: will DOGE maintain its momentum without Musk as its public face and protector? Some Cabinet secretaries have already pushed back against what they see as DOGE overstepping its bounds, including State Secretary Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

Yet Musk’s departure could also be a blessing in disguise. A senior official told CNN that the “shock and awe” approach Musk brought was necessary initially but created lawsuits and political headaches. Now, without the limelight, DOGE can focus on “action” rather than “authority and access.”

Georgia Representative Rich McCormick expects DOGE’s work to continue, though “it won’t be quite so publicized.”

Musk’s Unique Role and Vision

From the beginning, DOGE was Musk’s idea. He worked out of a secured office near the White House, sometimes sleeping there and even in the Lincoln Bedroom at Trump’s request. His focus ranged from well-researched audits to issues flagged on social media.

True to Silicon Valley style, Musk’s team moved fast, breaking norms and taking on a variety of roles across agencies—often juggling multiple jobs with different security badges and email accounts.

But as Musk’s own business struggles deepened, his influence in Washington waned. He told investors in April he would step back to focus on Tesla, though he plans to remain involved in government work part-time. His future role advising Trump remains unclear.

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said, “The mission of DOGE—to cut waste, fraud, and abuse—will surely continue. DOGE employees who onboarded at their respective agencies will keep working with President Trump’s cabinet to make our government more efficient.”

Congressional supporters echo that sentiment. GOP Rep. Aaron Bean called Musk the “rocket” that launched DOGE but said the mission would continue after the booster “separates.” House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole also said DOGE’s work is “useful” and likely to become institutionalized during Trump’s term.

DOGE Deeply Embedded Across Agencies

The Trump administration has been tight-lipped about DOGE’s size but confirms it is “everywhere” with a “substantial” workforce. Musk said DOGE started with about 100 staffers, aiming for 200.

Many have transitioned into formal government roles, often holding senior leadership positions in major agencies like the Social Security Administration (SSA), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

Executives from Musk’s companies—Tesla, SpaceX, The Boring Company, xAI, and X—now control critical government “nerve centers,” reshaping entitlement programs, revenue collection, and assistance distribution.

They’ve systematically sidelined or ousted top officials in key agencies, replacing them with DOGE-aligned staff who have gained unprecedented access to secure data systems, though some legal challenges have blocked access in places.

While some career officials have grown wary, others have welcomed the removal of barriers to detecting fraud and waste. Gene Dodaro, head of the Government Accountability Office, acknowledged some benefits, saying, “They’ve opened up some data barriers preventing detection of improper payments.”

Health startup founder Sam Corcos, working with Treasury’s DOGE team, praised the talent and cooperation he’s seen, calling career staff “super cooperative.”

Workforce Cuts Spark Distrust

Still, DOGE’s role in massive federal layoffs has caused deep distrust among remaining employees. The cuts and buyouts are just the first phase; agencies have submitted detailed plans for further large-scale reductions set for implementation by September 2025.

These plans are under legal scrutiny, with the Trump administration seeking Supreme Court intervention to allow mass firings and reorganizations.

A current Department of Education employee described a tense atmosphere between DOGE and other staff, saying DOGE workers “do stuff and then inform us later” or the news breaks it. Collaboration is minimal; DOGE staff reportedly keep to themselves, locking their doors and ignoring colleagues.

The Social Security Takeover

At the Social Security Administration—the largest federal program handling sensitive personal data—DOGE has taken control. Eleven DOGE staffers, many with ties to Musk, are embedded in the agency, including key executives like CIO Scott Coulter, who came from Musk’s tech circles.

DOGE is driving three major projects:

• The “Are You Alive?” initiative, ensuring records reflect who is living or deceased to stop improper payments.
• The Death Data Clean Up Project, updating deceased individuals’ records.
• The Fraud Detection Project, rooting out fraudulent changes in payments and claims.

Though legal battles block some data access, the Trump administration argues these efforts are vital to modernizing the government and cutting fraud.

DOGE’s control has altered agency culture, with staff working in small, secretive teams and limiting wider involvement.

Political Backlash and the Musk Factor

From the start, Democrats made Musk a prime target for criticism, blaming him for government chaos and cuts. Progressive groups plastered posters calling him a thief, and lawmakers introduced bills to block DOGE’s power.

As Musk’s public role diminishes, Democrats are shifting focus to DOGE’s policies themselves—especially layoffs and cuts to research grants—and how these disrupt people’s lives.

Sydney Register, press secretary for a progressive group, said, “The ‘Musk stealing from you’ message worked well. But beyond that, we need to highlight the havoc his fake efficiency work is causing.”

Some Democrats, like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, believe Musk’s retreat is just a technicality and his influence remains strong. Others hope his exit might slow DOGE’s momentum.

Rep. Pat Ryan expressed cautious optimism, saying, “Hopefully with Musk gone we can fight back harder on that.”

Meanwhile, Rep. Pete Aguilar noted the bigger picture: “The public understands what Elon Musk was trying to do for Donald Trump. That work will continue—whether Musk is the puppet master or not.”