The DOGE 100: Musk Is Out, but More Than 100 of His Followers Remain to Implement Trump’s Blueprint

ProPublica investigated the "DOGE" initiative, a Trump administration effort to downsize the U.S. government, involving executives and investors from Silicon Valley and big banks. Elon Musk, despite his departure, leaves behind a network within federal agencies, with some having ties to his companies. ProPublica found potential conflicts of interest, as some DOGE members oversee agencies regulating their former employers or businesses they own stock in. Many DOGE staffers are young, lack government experience, and come from finance-related industries. The group's operations are shrouded in secrecy, with efforts to restrict public information and communication. DOGE has faced criticism, including questions about its claimed savings and the impact of its actions. ProPublica compiled a list of 109 DOGE members to provide transparency into this group's activities. Concerns about potential conflicts of interest involving DOGE staffers have triggered inquiries. The initiative is largely male-dominated, with a significant number of members lacking prior government experience.