Reuters: Elon Musk–created DOGE ceases to exist

The US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by businessman Elon Musk until the end of May, was disbanded eight months before its mandate expired.

The department had been scheduled to operate until July 2026, Reuters reports.

Office of Personnel Management (OPM) director Scott Kuper said of DOGE’s status that “That doesn't exist,” adding it is no longer a “centralized structure.”

Established in January, the agency launched aggressive moves across Washington during the early months of Trump’s second term, aiming to downsize federal agencies, slash budgets, and realign their work with Trump’s priorities.

Since then, the OPM, the federal HR office, has assumed many of DOGE’s responsibilities, according to Kupor and Reuters-reviewed documents.

At least two senior DOGE staff have moved to the National Design Studio, a new entity established by Trump’s August executive order. Led by Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia, the studio has been tasked under the order with improving the design of government websites.

Acting DOGE administrator Amy Gleeson became an advisor to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy in March, alongside her DOGE role, a court ruling confirmed.

Kuper also noted that the government hiring moratorium has been lifted.

Reuters highlights that DOGE’s dissolution sharply contrasts with the Trump administration’s earlier efforts to draw attention to the department.

“President Trump was given a clear mandate to reduce waste, fraud and abuse across the federal government, and he continues to actively deliver on that commitment,” White House press secretary Liz Houston told the agency.

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was created by Executive Order 14158 on January 20, 2025, when Trump renamed the U.S. Digital Service as the U.S. DOGE Service to drive his new “DOGE Agenda” focused on modernising government tech and cutting waste.

Its mandate included shrinking the federal workforce (with hiring capped at one new hire per four who leave, excluding certain roles), auditing contracts and grants for inefficiencies, and rescinding redundant regulations.

DOGE also formed “teams” within each agency — each team was to include an engineer, HR specialist, attorney, and a lead — to coordinate with the central DOGE office.

By Jeyhun Aghazada