On the last Friday of September 2023, Elon Musk arrived late to a dinner party at the Silicon Valley mansion of technology investor Chamath Palihapitiya. His attendance was intended to be discreet, as he expressed caution about publicly supporting any candidates in the Republican nomination race. However, he was present at a $50,000-a-head dinner honoring presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, who aimed to disrupt the political status quo.
During the event, Musk discussed various topics, including his recent visit to the U.S.-Mexico border, the war in Ukraine, and his frustrations with government regulations affecting his rocket company, SpaceX. He emphasized the need to dismantle federal bureaucracy, framing it as a technological challenge. Musk jokingly suggested that if given access to federal government computers, he could streamline operations.
What began as casual dinner conversation evolved into a significant initiative to reform the federal bureaucracy, driven by Musk's libertarian views and dissatisfaction with regulatory oversight. His team, referred to as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has reportedly infiltrated over 20 government agencies.
Musk's strategy involved gaining control of the Office of Personnel Management to influence civil servant employment and accessing sensitive government databases, including those of the Social Security Administration and the Internal Revenue Service. This operation has been characterized by secrecy and a culture of fear among those involved, as many were reluctant to speak out due to concerns about retaliation.
The development of DOGE was facilitated by meetings in Palm Beach, Florida, and involved guidance from seasoned conservative operatives. Musk’s team identified the U.S. Digital Service, created during the Obama administration, as a key entry point into the federal government. They aimed to transform this unit into the U.S. DOGE Service, allowing them to penetrate government systems and implement their agenda.
As the Trump administration began, Musk's team quickly moved to establish control over critical digital infrastructure, with actions that included mass layoffs and the dismantling of entire agencies. This rapid transformation has drawn attention from both political allies and adversaries, with Musk’s approach reflecting a willingness to embrace political risk and impulsive decision-making.
In the months leading up to the election, Musk's endorsement of Trump and financial support for his campaign solidified their alignment. Musk proposed the idea of a government efficiency commission, which eventually became a central part of Trump’s economic platform. The concept of DOGE gained traction, with Musk suggesting it could save taxpayers trillions of dollars.
Following Trump’s victory, Musk and his allies began planning how to overhaul the federal bureaucracy. Their discussions included strategies to encourage federal workers to resign and to streamline government operations. Musk expressed a desire for radical changes, often drawing parallels to his management style at Twitter.
As the inauguration approached, Musk’s team prepared to implement their plans, which included taking over the White House digital office and establishing DOGE as a significant entity within the executive branch. This move allowed them to operate with a level of secrecy that would protect their actions from public scrutiny.
Once in office, Musk’s team quickly sought access to various federal systems, alarming career civil servants. Their rapid deployment across multiple agencies aimed to identify and eliminate perceived wasteful spending. Musk’s operation has since expanded its reach throughout the federal government, with Musk asserting that their efforts are just beginning.
“This is our one & only chance to restore democracy from the dictatorship of the bureaucracy,” Musk stated in a recent post, emphasizing the urgency of their mission.