What is DOGE? Is it a Federal Agency?
DOGE is an acronym for the Department of Government Efficiency. The name sounds like a cabinet-level agency in the federal government. It is not one. It is an advisory commission announced by President-elect Donald Trump for his second term.
Here are key points about DOGE:
- Leadership: It is set to be led by billionaire Elon Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.
- Purpose: The purpose of DOGE is to recommend how to streamline the federal government by reducing inefficiency, cutting federal spending, and downsizing government operations. This includes “dismantling government bureaucracy, slashing excess regulations, cutting wasteful expenditures, and restructuring federal agencies.”
- Operational Framework:
- DOGE is not a formal government department requiring Congressional approval for its creation. It will advise the White House and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
- Its objectives include identifying and eliminating wasteful, fraudulent, or unnecessary spending, with a particular focus on defense spending. Elon Musk has suggested potential savings could be as high as $2 trillion from the federal budget.
- Timeframe: Trump has set a deadline for DOGE’s work to conclude by July 4, 2026, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
- Legal and Operational Considerations:
- Since it’s an advisory body, it lacks direct authority to implement changes. Any significant policy or budgetary reforms would need Congressional action or might be challenged in court.
No one knows what impact DOGE will have on the government. Over the past 50 years, attempts to create a more efficient government and eliminate unnecessary or wasteful spending have resulted in some changes but often quietly ended without a lasting effect on government operations.
For example, the Grace Commission was created by President Ronald Reagan in 1982 and it was similar to DOGE.
The recommendations of the Grace Commission resulted in the closing of some military bases, reportedly saved about $100 billion in spending through executive orders, and changed the federal government’s retirement system for employees.
While much larger savings were recommended, getting the recommendations approved by Congress with Democrats in the majority in the House of Representatives was difficult and resulted in killing many recommendations.
Legislative Proposals for DOGE
As with the Grace Commission, advice or recommendations by the Department of Government Efficiency will often require legislative approval. The most substantive proposals are likely to require Congress to change existing laws or pass new ones.
Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) knows this has to be done. She has announced plans to introduce a package of bills known as the DOGE Acts.
The purpose of these is to align with President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed Department of Government Efficiency agenda. These bills are intended to:
- Require federal employees to return to working in their offices
- Freeze federal hiring and salaries for one year
- Begin the process of relocating federal agencies out of Washington, D.C.
- Establish a merit-based salary system for federal employees
- Cut discretionary spending, with carve-outs for public safety and national security
As of this writing, the full text of these legislative proposals is not available. Update: the DOGE Acts have been introduced.
What About a Hiring Freeze?
Several administrations have used a federal hiring freeze to control government spending. Presidents Carter, Reagan, and Trump all used a hiring freeze to control spending. The 2017 Trump administration’s 90-day federal hiring freeze was a significant recent example, where exceptions were made for national security and public safety roles.
President Trump imposed a hiring freeze on January 23, 2017. The new Trump administration will likely start out with a similar order.
What About Requiring Federal Employees to Work in an Office?
Since implementing the Telework Enhancement Act of 2010, federal agencies have leveraged workplace flexibilities to support an adaptable workforce capable of achieving objectives and navigating challenges and workforce needs, according to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
According to an August 2024 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) report on telework based on data from May 2024, 54% of federal employees were working in a government office as their jobs require them to be physically present during all working hours. The remaining 1.1 million (46.4%) were telework-eligible.
With a Republican majority in both Congressional chambers and the deluge of publicity surrounding federal employees working at home in recent days, there is a greater chance of legislation passing to require more federal employees to report to work in a government office. Elon Musk is also working to include Democrats in a DOGE caucus for bi-partisan input.
At the same time, federal employee unions are trying to put telework for employees into union contracts that extend beyond the term of the Trump administration. This effort will create a roadblock for requiring federal employees to report to work in an office.
Legislation could override these labor contracts. An agency determining that more federal employees have jobs requiring them to work in an office environment would also restrict the number of employees working at home.
There are also plans to closely monitor when or how employees are performing while working at home. Those who have not been working while in their home could face disciplinary or adverse action procedures under an administration that wants to end the practice as much as possible.
Summary
There will be changes coming to the federal government in 2025. Whether the most significant changes will encounter resistance in Congress remains to be seen.
While the Trump administration will not be inaugurated until late in January, there is a lot of momentum to move out quickly in creating new government policies. This is a significant difference between the Trump administration inaugurated in 2017 and the one taking office in 2025. Experience in the job for the first four years made a difference in how he will approach shaping his administration for a second term.
