DOGE Timeline: Efficiency and Technology Goals, Target Milestones, Lawsuits and Reality Checks

DOGE, short for the Department of Government Efficiency, was envisioned to cut U.S. regulations and eliminate wasteful government spending.

Dig a little deeper, and DOGE's mission includes a mandate to modernize federal technology and software to maximize efficiency and productivity, according to an Executive Order signed by President Donald Trump on his inauguration day in January 2025.

Among the big questions: Is it legal for President Trump to launch DOGE within the executive branch of the U.S. government, and can entrepreneur Elon Musk lead the office in a way that delivers on its lofty ambitions?

With those and other variables in mind, here's a timeline tracking Department of Government Efficiency goals, developments, milestones, lawsuits, hudles, reality checks and more.

What Is DOGE's Mission? The Department of Government Efficiency Explained

First, some background: During Trump's 2024 presidential campaign, entrepreneurs Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy evangelized the DOGE concept -- stating that such an office could lead to a 75% reduction in the federal workforce, a $2 trillion cut to federal spending and the elimination of entire agencies such as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, according to National Public Radio.

Raising the stakes even higher, Musk and Ramaswamy said office should be a temporary endeavor that shuts down on July 4, 2026. 

Ramaswamy foreshadowed the potential strategy in his book, Truths: The Future of America, NPR notes. The three-step strategy, NPR paraphrases, involves:

1. Appoint a czar who is accountable for permanently taming the administrative state.
2. Embed lawyers in every agency to find unconstitutional regulations.
3. Present these findings to the president — who could end regulation through executive order and therefore eliminate jobs and possibly entire agencies, according to NPR's summary.

Fast forward to January 2025. When Trump's second term as president kicked off, he signed an executive order to form DOGE.

DOGE Timeline: The Scorecard So Far

Now, here's that timeline tracking DOGE goals, developments, milestones, changes, reality checks, lawsuits and more. Check back regularly for updates...

January 23, 2025 - Attorney Exits: Top attorney Bill McGinley is leaving DOGE just days after President Trump’s return to the White House, The Wall Street Journal reported. McGinley, whom Trump appointed as DOGE’s legal counsel in December 2024, is in discussions with several large companies to return to the private sector, the report said.

January 20, 2025 - Ramaswamy Exits: Ramaswamy is leaving DOGE and launching a campaign for governor in Ohio, NBC News reported. Among the reasons for the departure: Ramaswamy wanted to cut regulations, while Musk preferred to prioritize government spending cuts, The Wall Street Journal reported. Moreover, Ramaswamy wanted the office to be an external operation rather than an office embedded in the executive branch of the U.S. federal government.

January 20, 2025 - Three Lawsuits Surface: Within minutes of Trump signing the executive order to form DOGE, activist groups filed three lawsuits against DOGE, Activist Docket reported. The suits alleging that the creation of DOGE shouldn’t be considered a federal agency — which can only happen through an act of Congress but rather an advisory committee, Activist Docket said.

January 20, 2025 - Focus Includes IT Efficiency: DOGE's mission includes a mandate to modernize federal technology and software to maximize efficiency and productivity, according to the Executive Order forming the office.

January 20, 2025 - Executive Order : Trump signed an executive order that organizes DOGE within the executive branch, replacing the U.S. Digital Service. The U..S. DOGE Service Temporary Organization shall terminate on July 4, 2026.