DOGE Track

Thomas Kiernan

Coder, age 30
Tech Industry Links: SpaceX
Exited govt: 6/02/25 (reported)
One of the four SpaceX engineers who were brought into the FAA on an ad hoc basis, he was only approved to work for 4 days at the agency. That short term was extended until June 4th, when it was revoked suddenly in the wake of Musk’s departure.

Positions

Appointed:
2/16/25-6/02/25 Senior Advisor NTE 2/20/25
Offboarding:
Left govt 6/02/25 (reported)
Source: A diminished DOGE reels from the departure of the ‘Dogefather,’ Elon Musk The Washington Post, 6/08/25

Events

2/16/25
Appointed:
Thomas Kiernan starts as Senior Advisor at FAA.
Appointed: Thomas Kiernan 2/16/25-6/02/25
Position Title: Senior Advisor, Office of the Administrator
Source: A diminished DOGE reels from the departure of the ‘Dogefather,’ Elon Musk The Washington Post, 6/08/25
2/17/25
Identification:
Four SpaceX engineers at FAA are granted ethics waivers and designated as Special Government Employees, but must recuse from decisions affecting SpaceX.
Person: Brady Glantz, Sam Smeal, Ted Malaska, Thomas Kiernan
Source: How Elon Musk Muscled His Way Into the FAA Bloomberg, 3/05/25
Agency: FAA
4/25/25
Disruption:
DOGE staff assigned to the FAA have reportedly enlisted government staff to work on a secret communications project named “Project Lift,” requiring them to sign NDAs. It is rumored to be about incorporating Starlink into FAA projects.
Person: Brady Glantz, Sam Smeal, Ted Malaska, Thomas Kiernan
Source: Musk Allies Made FAA Staff Sign NDAs to Keep New Project Secret Rolling Stone, 4/25/25
Agency: FAA
DOGE Project: Impunity
6/02/25
Offboarding:
Thomas Kiernan leaves role as Senior Advisor at FAA (exits govt. service)
Appointed: Thomas Kiernan 2/16/25-6/02/25
Position Title: Senior Advisor, Office of the Administrator
Source: A diminished DOGE reels from the departure of the ‘Dogefather,’ Elon Musk The Washington Post, 6/08/25
Offboarding:
In the wake of Elon Musk’s exit from DOGE, the four SpaceX engineers that have been working secretly in the FAA – Ted Malaska, Sam Smeal, Thomas Kiernan and Brady Glantz – are all immediately removed from the agency. The Post reports that some agency staff went for post-work drinks to celebrate the banishment of the DOGE team.
Person: Brady Glantz, Sam Smeal, Ted Malaska, Thomas Kiernan
Source: A diminished DOGE reels from the departure of the ‘Dogefather,’ Elon Musk The Washington Post, 6/08/25
Agency: FAA