A Year On: The DOGE Disaster

11 days ago

Elon Musk criticized New York's Fire Department appointment, despite having no qualifications to judge public service experience.
DOGE, created as a political project by right-wing billionaires, aimed to modernize federal tech but was used to cut services and push ideological agendas.
DOGE claimed to cut fraud but it was a mirage; actual cuts targeted programs like Social Security and USAID, leading to loss of life and trust.
DOGE functioned as state capture, benefiting Silicon Valley interests in crypto, AI deregulation, and government contracts under Trump.
Key allies like David Sacks and Scott Kupor were appointed to government roles, reflecting Silicon Valley's new political power.
DOGE did not save money; it cut the federal workforce by about 220,000 employees, weakening state capacity without reducing the deficit.
Cuts followed a partisan pattern, targeting liberal-leaning agencies and protecting conservative ones, with contract cancellations favoring Republican donors.
DOGE misunderstood government finances, as personnel costs are minor compared to spending on military and entitlements, and dismissed public service value.
DOGE lied about achievements, lacked accountability, and potentially violated laws, with little oversight from Congress or elected officials.
Overall, DOGE caused significant disruption and harm, including deaths from USAID cuts, without delivering meaningful public service improvements.

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