Response to the Department of Government Efficiency

The actions of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have attracted reactions from officials, scholars, and citizens. While a majority supports the creation of an agency dedicated to efficiency efforts, most opinion polls show opposition to DOGE and Elon Musk. Representatives created task forces to support DOGE efforts to cut waste. Countrywide protests have been organized to oppose mass layoffs, service cuts, privatization, and data extraction; United States Digital Service employees have resigned in protest. Various groups have sued DOGE, Musk, and the Trump administration.

Supporters have emphasized the need for efficiency and fiscal responsibility; they have expressed hope that DOGE will cut down on wasteful spending. Unitary executive theory advocates argue that the bureaucracy forms a "fourth branch of government" that should be bent to the President's will. Critics have spoken of a corporate coup of the US government by an entity they deem unaccountable and unconstitutional. Security experts have pointed to national security and cybersecurity risks created by DOGE teams rushing into critical infrastructure. Potential conflicts of interest have been raised about Musk and his associates: Musk did not divest from companies with government contracts that clash with federal regulators, which DOGE is trying to slash. The administration suggested that Musk would recuse himself if his interests conflicted. DOGE has been accused of pursuing a symbolic culture war rather than targeting wasteful spendings. Multi-billion-dollar mistakes have been reported in savings DOGE claimed.