DOGE Transforms Federal Workforce: Musk Leads Massive Government Restructuring in First 100 Days Under Trump Administration

In the 100 days since its inception, the Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE, has dramatically reshaped Washington's bureaucratic landscape. Headed by billionaire Elon Musk, who pitched the idea directly to Donald Trump during his campaign, this initiative has shrunk the federal workforce to 1960s levels[1].

Nearly a quarter million workers have left or are expected to leave their federal positions. Over 112,000 federal workers opted into a deferred resignation program, while an additional 121,000 have been fired across various agencies[1].

Established by executive order on January 20, 2025, DOGE was created to "modernize Federal technology" and implement the President's efficiency agenda[2]. The department maintains an active web presence at doge.gov, where financial transactions are publicly documented. Recent payments include over $10,000 in personnel costs from March 2025 and stipends for training programs[3].

Despite DOGE's aggressive workforce reductions, government spending has actually increased during this period, with cuts primarily affecting foreign aid and education[1]. Critics argue the initiative is less about efficiency and more about reshaping government to align with the administration's political ideology.

An internal DOGE report leaked to the Washington Post in February outlined a three-phase process to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion programs across federal agencies[4]. The department has gained unprecedented access to government data, including information about American citizens, public properties, scientific datasets, and classified material[4].

While supporters praise DOGE's ambitious goal of cutting the federal budget by approximately one-third, skeptics question whether Musk's corporate efficiency strategies can effectively transfer to government operations[5].

As we pass the 100-day mark of this experiment in government restructuring, the full impact of DOGE remains to be seen. What's clear is that Washington's bureaucratic landscape has been fundamentally altered, with consequences that will likely be felt for years to come.