How Elon Musk tried to gamify government

5 hours ago

Elon Musk joined the government in 2025, leading the 'Department of Government Efficiency' (Doge), aiming to modernize federal technology and eliminate waste.
Musk's approach combined private equity restructuring, startup management, and gaming culture, with a focus on centralizing data and automating governance.
Doge sought to integrate all government data into a single repository, enhancing surveillance capabilities and targeting 'illegitimate' people for deportation.
Musk used zero-based budgeting (ZBB) to justify all expenses anew, aiming to delete redundant agencies and automate decision-making with AI.
The project blurred lines between gaming and governance, with Musk referring to his role as 'reprogramming the matrix' and treating governance like a speedrun.
Doge faced backlash for its aggressive cuts to social programs and surveillance expansion, damaging Musk's reputation and failing to deliver promised savings.
Despite its collapse, Doge left a lasting impact, embedding contractors like Palantir deeper into government systems and expanding domestic surveillance.

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