Cary Volpert
Exited govt: 10/XX/25 (self-reported)
In May, a new rule at the VA mandated that all new contracts for IT and professional services (or that were for more than $10 million) must be formally approved by either Volpert or Christopher Roussos. Previously, he was the founder of a startup that offered social networking for senior citizens, and he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2013. Understandably, there have been concerns that he lacks the experience and expertise to effectively review contracts at the VA, especially since he is reportedly looking to aggressively cancel many of them quickly.
Positions
Appointed:
3/25/25-10/XX/25 $167,603 «End date inferred from LinkedIn profile»
Offboarding:
Left govt 10/XX/25 (self-reported)
Appointed:
3/25/25-10/XX/25 $167,603 «End date inferred from LinkedIn profile»
Offboarding:
Left govt 10/XX/25 (self-reported)
| Source: | Data Reveals Details About DOGE, Government Hiring in 2025 Bloomberg, 1/09/26 |
| Source: | LinkedIn profile for Cary Volpert LinkedIn, |
| Source: | Inside DOGE’s AI Push at the Department of Veterans Affairs Wired Magazine, 4/04/25 |
Events
3/25/25
Appointed:
Cary Volpert starts at VA.
Appointed:
Cary Volpert starts at VA.
| Appointed: | Cary Volpert 3/25/25-10/XX/25 |
| Salary: | $167,603 |
| Source: | Data Reveals Details About DOGE, Government Hiring in 2025 Bloomberg, 1/09/26 |
| Source: | LinkedIn profile for Cary Volpert LinkedIn, |
| Source: | Inside DOGE’s AI Push at the Department of Veterans Affairs Wired Magazine, 4/04/25 |
| Note: | End date inferred from LinkedIn profile |
Identification:
Tech staffers and contractors noticed a new DOGE staffer, Sahil Lavingia, was pushing code to a repo in the VA’s Github instance. He also appeared to be using an AI tool to write code. This later turns out to be code that is reviewing contracts to be terminated.
Identification:
Tech staffers and contractors noticed a new DOGE staffer, Sahil Lavingia, was pushing code to a repo in the VA’s Github instance. He also appeared to be using an AI tool to write code. This later turns out to be code that is reviewing contracts to be terminated.
| Person: | Cary Volpert, Christopher Roussos, Jon Koval, Justin Fulcher, Payton Rehling, Sahil Lavingia |
| Source: | Inside DOGE’s AI Push at the Department of Veterans Affairs Wired Magazine, 4/04/25 |
| Agency: | VA |
| DOGE Project: | IT Modernization, Spending |
5/13/25
Disruption:
A new memo from the acting principal director for acquisitions at the VA declares that all new contracts for information technology and professional services or any other contract for more than $10 million must be approved first by either Christopher Roussos or Cary Volpert. In addition, they are now required to send weekly reports to both of the DOGE representatives.
Disruption:
A new memo from the acting principal director for acquisitions at the VA declares that all new contracts for information technology and professional services or any other contract for more than $10 million must be approved first by either Christopher Roussos or Cary Volpert. In addition, they are now required to send weekly reports to both of the DOGE representatives.
| Person: | Cary Volpert, Christopher Roussos |
| Source: | VA sets new rules for contracts worth more than $10 million Federal News Network, 5/22/25 |
| Agency: | VA |
| DOGE Project: | Spending |
6/25/25
Oversight:
Democratic Congressman Mark Takano sends an angry letter to Secretary Collins of the VA demanding answers about DOGE activities including if they have installed spyware on agency machines, if they have been piloting AI, and if they have accessed medical records. He also asks for detailed information on DOGE staff at the agency.
Oversight:
Democratic Congressman Mark Takano sends an angry letter to Secretary Collins of the VA demanding answers about DOGE activities including if they have installed spyware on agency machines, if they have been piloting AI, and if they have accessed medical records. He also asks for detailed information on DOGE staff at the agency.
| Person: | Cary Volpert, Christopher Roussos, Jon Koval, Justin Fulcher, Payton Rehling, Sahil Lavingia |
| Source: | House Democrat demands VA disclose any spyware, AI installed on agency computers as part of DOGE initiative Stars and Stripes, 6/27/25 |
| Agency: | VA |
| DOGE Project: | IT Modernization, Anti-Personnel |
10/XX/25
Offboarding:
Offboarding:
| Appointed: | Cary Volpert 3/25/25-10/XX/25 |
| Salary: | $167,603 |
| Source: | Data Reveals Details About DOGE, Government Hiring in 2025 Bloomberg, 1/09/26 |
| Source: | LinkedIn profile for Cary Volpert LinkedIn, |
| Source: | Inside DOGE’s AI Push at the Department of Veterans Affairs Wired Magazine, 4/04/25 |
| Note: | End date inferred from LinkedIn profile |