Trump’s DOGE Efficiency Unit ‘Doesn’t Exist’ — Key Functions Shifted to OPM with Eight Months Left on Charter

By Courtney Rozen

Senior officials say the White House’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), launched this year to shrink federal agencies and cut costs, has effectively been dismantled with eight months remaining on its formal charter. Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor said, “That doesn't exist,” adding that DOGE is no longer a centralized entity and many of its duties have been absorbed by OPM.

What happened to DOGE?

Created in January as a high-profile effort to reduce government size, DOGE made rapid interventions across federal agencies early in the administration. Its public visibility was amplified by high-profile backers, public demonstrations and bold claims about savings. But the unit did not publish detailed, verifiable accounting of its work, and outside analysts could not confirm its public claims that it eliminated "tens of billions" in spending.

Personnel and successor projects

Several former DOGE staff have moved into other White House roles or related initiatives. Designer Joe Gebbia — originally associated with the DOGE effort — now heads a new National Design Studio focused on improving the visual presentation of government websites. His studio has already launched recruitment and public-facing sites tied to administration priorities.

Acting DOGE administrator Amy Gleason, whose background is in health technology, formally took on an advisory role at the Department of Health and Human Services while continuing to be linked to DOGE. Other former DOGE members have transitioned into senior technology and program positions across agencies.

Policy implications and ongoing priorities

The administration still pursues deregulation and technology-driven reviews of federal rules. For example, a White House budget office official previously affiliated with DOGE has been tasked with using custom AI tools to evaluate regulations. A government-wide hiring freeze long associated with DOGE has ended, and OPM officials say there is no longer an active target for workforce reductions.

“President Trump was given a clear mandate to reduce waste, fraud and abuse across the federal government, and he continues to actively deliver on that commitment,” said White House spokeswoman Liz Huston.

While the White House has not formally declared DOGE defunct — and an earlier executive order extended its charter through July 2026 — public references from senior officials have increasingly treated the unit as a past initiative. At the same time, some states have begun launching their own versions of government-efficiency offices modeled on the DOGE concept.

Context and outlook

DOGE’s rise and apparent fading illustrate the challenges of turning a headline-grabbing White House project into a durable, accountable federal program. Key functions have been redistributed across established agencies, and former DOGE personnel continue to influence policy through new roles and technology initiatives. Observers will be watching whether those initiatives produce measurable, verifiable savings or structural changes to the federal workforce and regulatory landscape.

By Courtney Rozen.