Where are Elon Musk's former DOGE staffers now?
As wildfires spread across the U.S., former staffers from Elon Musk's DOGE initiative have moved on to roles in technology companies and government.
Amidst spreading wildfires across the United States, reports are emerging about the current whereabouts and professional paths of former staff members from Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative. DOGE, which aimed to implement private-sector methods for significant federal spending reductions, has seen its former employees forge new careers in technology and prominent government roles.
The DOGE program, spearheaded by Musk during the Trump administration, involved staff cuts and the termination of contracts and programs across various agencies. Critics have suggested these actions may have compromised agencies' preparedness for emergencies. Many key figures from DOGE have since moved to found their own technology companies or take on leadership positions in the private sector, often focusing on AI and other emerging technologies.
Examples include Nate Cavanaugh and Justin Fox, who co-founded Special, a company aiming to transform American industries with AI. Gavin Kliger, Luke Farritor, Marko Elez, and Jack Stein established Cathedral, a startup focused on expanding U.S. military cyber capabilities. Ethan Shaotran has founded Blitz Industries, a defense company.
Not all former DOGE personnel have left public service. Jeremy Lewin, who assisted in the wind-down of USAID under DOGE, continued his career in the State Department overseeing foreign assistance and humanitarian affairs before moving to the White House National Security Council. Edward Coristine, previously involved with data handling at the Social Security Administration and the closure of USAID, now works at the National Design Studio, which focuses on modernizing federal web services.
These career trajectories of former DOGE staffers illustrate how expertise and philosophies originating in government can influence both the private sector and continued developments within government, sometimes in ways distinct from the program's initial aims.