The Unseen Architects: How DOGE Continues to Shape the Federal Government
Reports of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) fading into obscurity have been greatly exaggerated. Far from a flash in the pan, this initiative, often associated with Elon Musk’s ambitious overhaul of federal operations, has proven remarkably resilient. Instead of a grand exit, DOGE has, by many accounts, strategically embedded itself within the very fabric of government agencies, operating more like persistent, industrious moles than a fleeting trend.
From Instagram Slideshows to Agency Deep Dives: A Glimpse into the Field
The narrative of DOGE’s decline is challenged by the ongoing activities of its former and current operatives. Take Yat Choi, for instance. A former engineer at Airbnb, Choi joined DOGE in the spring and recently shared a series of vivid Instagram posts. These weren’t dry policy briefs, but rather a collage of government life: clips of officials dancing on the White House lawn, private jets, and lively house parties adorned with American flags and red Solo cups. His commentary, referencing a return to a Pennsylvania mine for processing federal retirement claims, suggests a hands-on, project-driven approach.
Choi’s posts hint at a methodology that involves understanding the foundational processes within agencies, much like charting a complex underground system. His return to the “Mine” to lead pilot programs signals a commitment to iterative improvement and on-the-ground implementation, a stark contrast to the idea of a disbanded task force. While Choi himself did not respond to requests for comment, his digital footprint paints a picture of active, ongoing engagement within the federal sphere.
The Persistent Network: Who’s Still at the Helm?
Choi is not an anomaly. Many of the young, often inexperienced tech minds initially identified by WIRED as DOGE operatives continue to hold positions within federal agencies or maintain affiliations with the US government. Names like Edward “Big Balls” Coristine, Gavin Kliger, Marko Elez, Akash Bobba, and Ethan Shaotran still list DOGE or government roles in their profiles. This network also extends to tech professionals from established Silicon Valley firms and even Musk’s other ventures, such as xAI and SpaceX. The silence from these individuals when approached for comment only adds to the sense of a deliberate, tightly-knit operation.
The core tenets of DOGE—streamlining contracts, consolidating disparate agency data, and adopting private sector efficiencies—appear to be not just alive, but actively propagated. While the initial, breakneck pace may have subsided, the influence is undeniable, with Silicon Valley’s fingerprints increasingly visible on how government functions operate.
Modernizing the Tax Man: IT Overhauls at the IRS
One of the most concrete examples of DOGE’s enduring impact can be seen at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). In recent weeks, the agency has begun administering coding tests to hundreds of its technical staff. This initiative, aimed at assessing “technical proficiency,” reportedly stems from Sam Corcos, a key DOGE operative and currently the Chief Information Officer of the Treasury. Corcos’s objective is to fundamentally re-engineer the IRS’s sprawling 8,500-person IT department as part of a broader “modernization” effort across the US Treasury.
The testing platform of choice? HackerRank, a tool widely adopted by private-sector tech giants like Airbnb, LinkedIn, and PayPal for evaluating candidate technical skills. This move is particularly striking because, as several IRS sources attest, testing existing government employees on coding proficiency is highly unusual. Typically, such assessments are reserved for external job applicants.
An IRS employee, speaking anonymously, expressed a sentiment shared by many: “They want to see IRS as like a tech company, that’s the feeling I get.” This ambition to transform a bureaucratic behemoth into a nimble tech operation underscores the DOGE ethos of importing private sector methodologies into the public domain.
This parallels earlier DOGE tactics, such as when staff at the Technology Transformation Services (TTS) were required to defend their projects in video calls with DOGE members and submit weekly progress reports that were, in some instances, analyzed by AI. This approach eerily mirrors the playbook Elon Musk implemented when he took over X (formerly Twitter) in 2022, emphasizing data-driven oversight and rapid accountability.
Despite internal meetings, many IRS employees feel left in the dark regarding the purpose and future application of these new coding tests. “They’re keeping us in the dark,” one employee stated, highlighting a persistent challenge in transparently implementing such transformative initiatives.
Cutting Red Tape: AI and Deregulation Efforts
Beyond IT infrastructure, DOGE operatives are also actively engaged in efforts to reduce regulatory burdens across the government. Scott Langmack, who previously served as a DOGE operative at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, has transitioned to a significant role at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). As the Executive Director of “Deregulation AI,” Langmack is now leading the charge in developing “custom AI applications to accelerate the elimination of the excess regulation constraining American business.” This focus on AI-driven deregulation signifies a strategic application of advanced technology to achieve a long-standing policy goal.
Public Health Transformation: The CDC and the New Guard
Sam Beyda, a figure reportedly linked to DOGE, has taken on the role of Deputy Chief of Staff for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). His appointment follows a period of significant staff reductions at the CDC, including experts in critical areas like lead poisoning and HIV. Notably, Beyda’s background appears to be devoid of traditional public health experience; he is a recent graduate of Columbia University and previously worked for a company involved in cannabinoid manufacturing, whose parent organization is led by his father-in-law.
This appointment comes amidst a turbulent period for the CDC, including the abrupt departure of its director, who alleged she was “targeted” for refusing to implement “unscientific, reckless directives.” While a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) stated that Beyda has “never worked for DOGE or DOGE-affiliated parts of the federal government,” the timing and nature of his role raise questions about the evolving leadership and priorities within the agency.
The National Design Studio: A New Hub for Digital Transformation
A significant development in the DOGE network’s evolution is the creation of the National Design Studio (NDS), spearheaded by Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia. Appointed as the US Chief Design Officer, Gebbia now leads NDS, a new entity housed within the Executive Office of the President (EOP), much like the original US Digital Service (USDS).
Tasked with redesigning government web pages and digital services, NDS signifies a concentrated effort to bring user-centric design principles, common in the tech world, to the federal government. This initiative is expected to impact how citizens interact with government platforms and access information. Several original DOGE operatives, including Edward Coristine, have migrated to NDS, further solidifying its connection to the broader DOGE mission.
NDS has already begun to produce visible outputs, including websites detailing White House initiatives on healthcare, immigration, and public safety. These sites adopt a modern, tech-company aesthetic and provide direct links to government programs and job opportunities, such as those related to the Trump administration’s DC task force.
AI Missions and Continued Ambition
The NDS team, including Coristine, has also been instrumental in the launch of the Trump administration’s “Genesis” AI mission, an Energy Department initiative focused on building an AI platform for scientific research. Coristine highlighted the speed and in-house capability of the NDS team, emphasizing their ability to develop complex projects like video, websites, and branding within weeks. This showcases a desire to foster a culture of rapid innovation and ownership within government tech projects.
The Reuters Report and the DOGE Rebuttal
Despite these ongoing activities, reports suggesting DOGE’s demise persist. A recent Reuters article claimed the group had “disbanded,” citing statements from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). However, the DOGE X account swiftly countered this, labeling the report as “fake news.” They asserted that while centralized leadership under USDS might have shifted, the core principles of DOGE—deregulation, combating waste and fraud, workforce reshaping, and prioritizing efficiency—remain active. This suggests a strategic shift from a centralized entity to a distributed network of influence, embedding its ethos across agencies.
Scott Kupor, Director of OPM and a former managing partner at Andreessen Horowitz, echoed this sentiment, stating that DOGE “catalyzed these changes; the agencies along with @USOPM and @WHOMB will institutionalize them.” This indicates a transition from a project-driven initiative to ingrained agency practices.
Talent Migration: From DC to the Private Sector and Back
While many DOGE operatives remain within the federal government, a segment has indeed moved to new roles in the private sector, particularly within Musk-affiliated companies. Anthony Armstrong, formerly of OPM and EOP, now serves as Chief Financial Officer at Musk’s xAI. John Solly, who contributed to the DOGE team at the Social Security Administration, has joined Leidos, a prominent government contractor.
Even Elon Musk himself, in a recent appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast, confirmed the ongoing nature of DOGE’s work, stating, “DOGE is still happening, by the way… there is still waste and fraud being cut by the DOGE team.” Musk also alluded to the pressure applied to halt the initiative, suggesting that his own departure from Washington D.C. removed a focal point for opposition, allowing the work to continue more discreetly.
The Enduring "Easy" Mission
The confusion surrounding DOGE’s status and continued presence highlights a complex interplay of public service, private sector ambition, and political maneuvering. Despite the public perception of its dissolution, the individuals associated with DOGE appear to be operating with a clear, albeit perhaps understated, mission. Yat Choi’s Instagram post, featuring a banner that reads, “We do this not because it is easy, but because we thought it would be easy,” and humorously updated with “and we STILL think its [sic] easy!”, encapsulates a spirit of determined optimism. It suggests that even when the path proves more challenging than anticipated, the pursuit of efficiency and modernization within the federal government remains a driving force for this influential network.
This enduring presence, characterized by strategic placement, adoption of private sector methodologies, and a focus on tangible improvements in efficiency and technology, suggests that the DOGE initiative, in its evolving form, continues to be a significant, albeit often behind-the-scenes, player in the ongoing modernization of the US federal government. The impact is subtle, pervasive, and far from over.