The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), created by US President Donald Trump to downsize the federal government, has reportedly been shut down nearly eight months ahead of schedule. The closure ends a high-profile initiative that was launched on Trump’s first day back in office as a symbol of his commitment to reducing government size, Reuters reported.
When Reuters asked about DOGE earlier this month, Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Director Scott Kupor said, “That doesn’t exist.” He added that DOGE is no longer a “centralized entity,” marking the first public confirmation from the administration about the department’s end.
DOGE was formed through an executive order with the goal of driving major structural reform across federal agencies. Tech billionaire Elon Musk and former Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy were appointed to lead the department, which was expected to operate until July 2026.
In February, Musk claimed that DOGE was “as transparent as possible,” although he avoided addressing reports that DOGE agents refused to identify themselves on several occasions.
During the early months of Trump’s second term, DOGE aggressively entered multiple departments across Washington. It pushed rapid budget cuts, reshaped agency priorities and shifted work toward Trump’s agenda. Many of its responsibilities have now been absorbed by the Office of Personnel Management, the federal government’s HR department.
Despite internal changes and Musk’s public fallout with Trump in May, the administration had not openly stated that DOGE was finished — until now. Musk has reportedly left Washington following the feud.
