Elon Musk's venture into government efficiency has taken a curious turn, with his secretive task force, DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency), making waves at the US Department of Education. But instead of the usual subtlety you'd expect from a governmental project, DOGE is ripping through the department, making drastic budget cuts, relocating top officials, and leaving a trail of confusion in its wake.
As the DOGE team continues its mission to trim the fat from federal spending, Education Department staffers are witnessing unprecedented disruption in the workplace. The team's methods, to put it lightly, are unconventional—some would say borderline chaotic. Yet, it's clear that DOGE's approach isn't about polite negotiation. They're here to do one thing: cut costs, regardless of the consequences.
Taking over and making it their ownDOGE's presence in the Education Department is hard to ignore. As reported by
CNBC, staffers from this secretive task force have turned the department's headquarters in Washington, D.C., into their personal command center. Top officials, including Acting Education Secretary Denise Carter and Acting Under Secretary James Bergeron, have found themselves without offices, as DOGE staff have not only occupied their spaces but also rearranged the furniture and installed white noise machines to disrupt their conversations. According to one staffer, “They took over the top real estate; they made themselves at home. It was that attitude of, ‘We can do whatever we want.'”
With limited time to make their mark—most DOGE members are classified as “special government employees,” meaning they can only work for 130 days a year—the task force is in a race against time to make significant cuts before their term ends. They are reportedly pushing to cancel large contracts and eliminate what they consider unnecessary spending, all without offering clear explanations to the department's regular staff.
The dog-eat-dog competition within DOGEWhat's even more curious is the internal competition among DOGE members to make the biggest budget cuts.
CNBC has reported that the task force appears to be more focused on scoring big headlines than on collaborating with the existing department staff or adhering to clear policy goals. In one dramatic move, DOGE canceled $881 million in contracts, according to their social media accounts. But these cuts aren't based on a consistent strategy—they seem arbitrary, leaving staffers confused about what to prioritize.
"Some employees said they feel they need to physically stay out of the way of DOGE staffers," one Education Department staffer shared with
CNBC, describing the atmosphere as "intimidating." Staffers also reported that they were given vague directives—just a number to cut from the budget—without any written explanation of the rationale.
A mystery without a clear missionAccording to
CNBC, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) claims its efforts are designed to make the Department of Education more cost-efficient, effective, and accountable to taxpayers. But behind the rhetoric, secrecy and shifting directives are fueling uncertainty. DOGE staff demands change almost daily, leaving DOE employees scrambling to keep up. The lack of transparency and consistency has raised concerns that this isn’t about reform—it’s about dismantling the department altogether.
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