The Department of Government Efficiency — widely known as DOGE — has quietly ceased to function despite having eight months left on its mandate under an executive order signed by US President Donald Trump, according to news agency Reuters.
Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Director Scott Kupor confirmed the dissolution earlier this month. "That doesn’t exist," he said, as per Reuters.
Kupor added that the body is no longer a "centralized entity", signalling that its responsibilities have been absorbed into existing federal structures.
Created in January, DOGE was initially positioned as an strike force to cut federal agencies' budgets and reorient government functions toward Trump’s agenda.
In the early months of Trump’s second term, led by Trump's close ally Elon Musk DOGE, made bold moves across Washington. But Kupor said the OPM -- the federal government’s HR office -- has now taken over many of its functions.
At least two senior DOGE employees have transitioned to the newly created National Design Studio, an entity formed through an August executive order. The studio, led by Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia, has been tasked with redesigning and "beautifying" government websites. Gebbia previously worked with Elon Musk as part of Doge, alongside Edward Coristine -- known online as "Big Balls" -- who publicly urged people on X to apply to join the new unit.
The contrast between the intense early publicity and the near-silent shutdown has been striking. Musk, who initially led DOGE, often touted its mission online and even brandished a chainsaw at the Conservative Political Action Conference in February. "This is the chainsaw for bureaucracy," he declared, raising the tool above his head.
DOGE claimed to have saved tens of billions of dollars through cuts and reorganisations.
White House spokeswoman Liz Huston defended the administration’s broader agenda, saying, "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."
Although the White House had not previously confirmed DOGE shutdown, administration officials had begun referring to it in the past tense. Musk’s public feud with Trump in May added to speculation around the body’s future, and Musk has since left Washington.
Despite Trump’s executive order stating DOGE should remain active through July 2026, indicators of its demise accumulated over the summer. Acting Doge Administrator Amy Gleason formally shifted her focus to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in March, where she now advises Secretary Robert Kennedy. Her public statements in recent months have largely centred on her HHS work.
Kupor confirmed another hallmark policy of DOGE -- the government-wide hiring freeze -- has ended. Trump had ordered agencies to hire "no more than one employee for every four” departing, unless exceptions were approved. “There is no target around reductions anymore," Kupor said.
Musk had initially framed DOGE as a mission to cut regulations and introduce AI-driven governance. The administration continues to pursue regulatory cuts.
Meanwhile, Musk met the US President at a White House dinner for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Washington after a public feud. In May, Musk stepped down from his position at DOGE and quietly left Washington.
Musk and the US President's relationship has soured in recent months, following Musk’s criticism of the administration’s major tax and spending bill. Musk argued the bill undercut the DOGE by expanding the federal deficit, prompting a split over his role in the agency. Trump later threatened consequences for the tech billionaire, while Musk responded by announcing the launch of the America Party.
