"Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)." (01,20,25)

What is this?

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is a temporary government initiative created by President Trump on January 20, 2025, with the goal of cutting wasteful spending, modernizing technology, and making the federal government more efficient. Originally led by Elon Musk, DOGE has been involved in terminating government contracts, facilitating mass layoffs of federal workers, and dismantling various government organizations and programs. The department has claimed to save $160 billion, though critics say these supposed savings might actually end up costing taxpayers more money and that many of DOGE's claims about finding fraud have been proven wrong.

DOGE's operations have been controversial, with some critics calling its actions unconstitutional or comparing them to a coup. Elon Musk's role was unclear throughout his involvement, as he maintained business interests that conflicted with his government position, and questions arose about whether he needed Senate confirmation. Musk eventually left the Trump administration in May 2025, along with other top DOGE officials. The organization is scheduled to end on July 4, 2026, and is currently run by acting administrator Amy Gleason.

What's in it for us?

 If DOGE successfully cuts government programs, young people might see reductions in federal services they rely on, such as student aid processing, job training programs, or social services. On the flip side, government job opportunities for recent graduates could decrease due to the mass layoffs and agency downsizing that DOGE has been facilitating. Supporters argue that DOGE's efficiency improvements could lead to better, faster government services when young people need to interact with federal agencies for things like applying for student loans, getting passports, or filing taxes.