Among the many executive orders he issued on his first day, President Trump issued one that formally establishes the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
The purpose of the Executive Order (EO) is “to implement the President’s DOGE Agenda, by modernizing Federal technology and software to maximize governmental efficiency and productivity.”
The United States Digital Service is being renamed to the United States DOGE Service (USDS) and being established within the Executive Office of the President. There will be a USDS Administrator established in the Executive Office of the President who shall report to the White House Chief of Staff.
There will be a temporary organization known as “the U.S. DOGE Service Temporary Organization” headed by the USDS Administrator and shall be dedicated to advancing the President’s 18-month DOGE agenda. Per its original mission, DOGE is scheduled to terminate on July 4, 2026.
The EO also mandates the formation of DOGE Teams within each agency, consisting of at least four employees, typically including a DOGE Team Lead, an engineer, a human resources specialist, and an attorney. These teams are responsible for coordinating with USDS to implement the President’s agenda. DOGE Teams may also include Special Government Employees, hired or assigned within 30 days of the date of the EO.
The Executive Order initiates a Software Modernization Initiative led by the USDS Administrator. This initiative seeks to upgrade government-wide software, network infrastructure, and IT systems, promoting interoperability, data integrity, and responsible data management across agencies. Agency heads are instructed to ensure USDS has timely access to all unclassified records and systems, adhering to strict data protection standards.
There is now a government website for DOGE: doge.gov. As of the time of this writing, the only thing displaying on it was the DOGE logo, a heading line reading “Department of Government Efficiency,” a subheading reading, “The people voted for major reform.”, and text at the top of the page stating that it was an official website of the United States government. No doubt more information will be posted on the website soon.
A copy of the full Executive Order is included below.
Shortly after President Trump was inaugurated, he was sued by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and two other plaintiffs over DOGE. The lawsuit alleges that it violates the Federal Advisory Committee Act, in part because the lawsuit states that “DOGE is not and was never intended to be a department of the United States government.”
Establishing and Implementing the President’s “Department of Government Efficiency”
Executive Order
January 20, 2025
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:
Section 1. Purpose. This Executive Order establishes the Department of Government Efficiency to implement the President’s DOGE Agenda, by modernizing Federal technology and software to maximize governmental efficiency and productivity.
Sec. 2. Definitions. As used in this order:
(a) “Agency” has the meaning given to it in section 551 of title 5, United States Code, except that such term does not include the Executive Office of the President or any components thereof.
(b) “Agency Head” means the highest-ranking official of an agency, such as the Secretary, Administrator, Chairman, or Director, unless otherwise specified in this order.
Sec. 3. DOGE Structure. (a) Reorganization and Renaming of the United States Digital Service. The United States Digital Service is hereby publicly renamed as the United States DOGE Service (USDS) and shall be established in the Executive Office of the President.
(b) Establishment of a Temporary Organization. There shall be a USDS Administrator established in the Executive Office of the President who shall report to the White House Chief of Staff. There is further established within USDS, in accordance with section 3161 of title 5, United States Code, a temporary organization known as “the U.S. DOGE Service Temporary Organization”. The U.S. DOGE Service Temporary Organization shall be headed by the USDS Administrator and shall be dedicated to advancing the President’s 18-month DOGE agenda. The U.S. DOGE Service Temporary Organization shall terminate on July 4, 2026. The termination of the U.S. DOGE Service Temporary Organization shall not be interpreted to imply the termination, attenuation, or amendment of any other authority or provision of this order.
(c) DOGE Teams. In consultation with USDS, each Agency Head shall establish within their respective Agencies a DOGE Team of at least four employees, which may include Special Government Employees, hired or assigned within thirty days of the date of this Order. Agency Heads shall select the DOGE Team members in consultation with the USDS Administrator. Each DOGE Team will typically include one DOGE Team Lead, one engineer, one human resources specialist, and one attorney. Agency Heads shall ensure that DOGE Team Leads coordinate their work with USDS and advise their respective Agency Heads on implementing the President ‘s DOGE Agenda.
Sec. 4. Modernizing Federal Technology and Software to Maximize Efficiency and Productivity. (a) The USDS Administrator shall commence a Software Modernization Initiative to improve the quality and efficiency of government-wide software, network infrastructure, and information technology (IT) systems. Among other things, the USDS Administrator shall work with Agency Heads to promote inter-operability between agency networks and systems, ensure data integrity, and facilitate responsible data collection and synchronization.
(b) Agency Heads shall take all necessary steps, in coordination with the USDS Administrator and to the maximum extent consistent with law, to ensure USDS has full and prompt access to all unclassified agency records, software systems, and IT systems. USDS shall adhere to rigorous data protection standards.
(c) This Executive Order displaces all prior executive orders and regulations, insofar as they are subject to direct presidential amendment, that might serve as a barrier to providing USDS access to agency records and systems as described above.
Sec. 5. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
THE WHITE HOUSE,
January 20, 2025.
