As of now, most members of the U.S. Government Efficiency Board (DOGE) are familiar faces associated with billionaire Elon Musk and President-elect Donald Trump.
In November 2024, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump announced that billionaire Elon Musk, alongside entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, would co-chair an advisory committee named the Government Efficiency Board (DOGE).
In his announcement, Trump stated that DOGE would be tasked with streamlining the system, cutting redundant regulations, and reducing wasteful government spending. The board is scheduled to conclude its activities on July 4, 2026, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of U.S. Independence Day.
On December 18, Bloomberg reported that Steve Davis, CEO of The Boring Company, and former U.S. Chief Technology Officer Michael Kratsios are potential candidates currently being interviewed. So far, DOGE has recruited around 10 members.
According to Bloomberg, Musk’s efficiency board is also seeking software engineers, including those with extensive experience in artificial intelligence (AI).
Details about most of DOGE’s personnel remain unclear, including whether these are full-time positions, where they will work, and how they will be compensated. Bloomberg revealed that DOGE is operating out of a SpaceX-leased office near the White House.
In November, Musk shared in a social media post on X that DOGE staff would engage in “tedious work” without receiving any compensation.
Trusted Allies
As of now, most DOGE members are closely associated with Elon Musk and President-elect Donald Trump. Davis, for instance, is no stranger to Musk’s companies.
The Boring Company CEO holds a Ph.D. in economics from George Mason University and began his career as an engineer at SpaceX. Musk personally selected Davis to lead his underground transportation tunnel company.
Davis also oversaw cost-cutting efforts at X (formerly Twitter). Within Musk’s orbit, Davis is known for his creativity and ambitious goals.
Joining Davis is Kratsios, who served as Trump’s top technology advisor during his first term. Before joining the Trump administration, Kratsios was Chief of Staff to tech billionaire Peter Thiel and later became Chief Operating Officer at Scale AI, a data-labeling startup.
DOGE’s first recruitment announcement earlier this month was made by President-elect Trump, not Musk or Ramaswamy.
In a Truth Social post on December 4, Trump revealed that Republican attorney William Joseph McGinley would serve as an advisor to the board. McGinley previously held the role of White House Cabinet Secretary under Trump from 2017 to 2019.
Silicon Valley’s Role
Silicon Valley is playing a prominent role in DOGE’s activities. Tesla and SpaceX CEO Musk reportedly consulted with Silicon Valley leaders, such as venture capitalist Marc Andreessen and Uber co-founder Travis Kalanick, about his plans for the Efficiency Board.
In November 2024, DOGE launched an account on Musk’s social media platform X, announcing that applicants could submit their resumes via direct messages.
“We are looking for revolutionaries to join a small government team with extremely high IQs, willing to work over 80 hours a week to perform unglamorous cost-cutting tasks,” the announcement read.
