Targeting for Elimination
We spent the weekend feeding USAID into the wood chipper. Could gone to some great parties. Did that instead. - Elon MuskWhile anti-personnel efforts have cut a swath across the entire federal government, DOGE has also frequented targeted specific departments and even entire agencies for elimination. Perhaps the most prominent examples of this have been the destruction of USAID and thwarted dismantling of CFPB, but DOGE has also targeted numerous smaller independent agencies for destruction as well. DOGE’s methods have generally followed the same script:
- If necessary, coordinate with the White House to fire agenecy directors or members of a supervisory board that might prevent DOGE from being able to operate with impunity
- Then, arrange a meeting with agency leadership, under the pretense that you’re authorized to perform IT modernization and get them to sign a Memorandum of Understanding to detail DOGE staff into the agency.
- Badger or force the IT staff to grant admin access for the DOGE team in systems that manage contracts, grants, system access and personnel. In some cases, DOGE teams have relied upon allies in agency leadership to ensure this access.
- If able to take over agency leadership, immediately place all employees on indefinite administrative leave and lock them out from accessing agency systems.
- Use access to the contracts and grants systems to immediately cancel contracts and rescind all grants.
- Formally issue a massive Reduction in Force (RIF) notice to be executed as soon as feasible. Ensure nobody is taken off administrative leave before then.
- Delete the website and gloat about it on X.
Systems
PAC: Physical Access Control
2/07/25-5/08/25 1 users
Possibly a system for controlling and monitoring physical access to CFPB buildings
PAC: Physical Access Control
2/07/25-5/08/25 1 users
Possibly a system for controlling and monitoring physical access to CFPB buildings
| : | 2/07/25-5/08/25 Gavin Kliger |
| Source: | AFL-CIO v. DOL, doc 80-5 Court Document, 4/18/25 |
| DOGE Project: | Anti-Personnel, Elimination, Impunity |
Events
1/20/25
Appointed:
Peter Marocco starts as Director of Foreign Assistance at State.
Appointed:
Peter Marocco starts as Director of Foreign Assistance at State.
| Appointed: | Peter Marocco 1/20/25-4/13/25 |
| Position Title: | Director of Foreign Assistance |
| Salary: | $195,200 |
| Source: | Data Reveals Details About DOGE, Government Hiring in 2025 Bloomberg, 1/09/26 |
| Source: | Trump-appointed official who oversaw dismantling of USAID leaves State Department Reuters, 4/13/25 |
c.1/22/25
Appointed:
Nate Cavanaugh starts at GSA.
Appointed:
Nate Cavanaugh starts at GSA.
| Appointed: | Nate Cavanaugh c.1/22/25-8/06/25 |
| Salary: | $120,509 |
| Source: | Data Reveals Details About DOGE, Government Hiring in 2025 Bloomberg, 1/09/26 |
| Source: | The Authors Guild/American Council of Learned Societies v. National Endowment for the Humanities, doc 248-1 Court Document, 3/06/26 |
| Source: | Some DOGE Staffers Are Drawing Six-Figure Government Salaries Wired Magazine, 3/04/25 |
| Note: | Testifies started working in early January, but formally a few days after inauguration |
1/23/25
Appointed:
Trent Morse starts as Deputy Assistant to the President / Deputy Director of Presidential Personnel at EOP.
Appointed:
Trent Morse starts as Deputy Assistant to the President / Deputy Director of Presidential Personnel at EOP.
| Appointed: | Trent Morse 1/23/25 |
| Position Title: | Deputy Assistant to the President / Deputy Director of Presidential Personnel |
1/24/25
Appointed:
James Burnham starts as General Counsel at DOGE.
Appointed:
James Burnham starts as General Counsel at DOGE.
| Appointed: | James Burnham 1/24/25-6/03/25 |
| Position Title: | General Counsel |
| Source: | The Authors Guild/American Council of Learned Societies v. National Endowment for the Humanities, doc 122-2 Court Document, 2/17/26 |
| Source: | Inside Elon Musk’s Plan for DOGE to Slash Government Costs The New York Times, 1/12/25 |
| Note: | NYT reported in DOGE in January, ProPublica provided title |
1/27/25
Detailed To:
Detailed To:
| GSA? Detailed To: USAID Edward Coristine 1/27/25 | |
| Position Title: | Senior Advisor, Office of the CIO |
| Source: | 19-year-old Musk surrogate takes on roles at State Department and DHS The Washington Post, 2/10/25 |
| Note: | Date at USAID reported by NYT |
| GSA Detailed To: USAID Luke Farritor 1/27/25 | |
| Source: | The blinding contempt of the DOGE bros The Washington Post, 2/25/25 |
| GSA Detailed To: USAID Jeremy Lewin 1/27/25-3/18/25 | |
| Position Title: | Senior Advisor / Director for Strategy & Programs |
| Source: | J. Doe 4 v. Musk, doc 77-2 Court Document, 3/19/25 |
| Source: | Detailing agreement from GSA to USAID for Jeremy Lewin Document Cloud, |
Detailed To:
Detailed To:
| OPM? Detailed To: USAID Clayton Cromer 1/27/25 | |
| Source: | Within two weeks of President Trump’s return to the White House, U.S.A.I.D. was on the cusp of oblivion The New York Times, 6/22/25 |
| Note: | NYT links to USAID, but need to find public reports of this |
| OPM Detailed To: USAID Gavin Kliger 1/27/25 | |
| Source: | The blinding contempt of the DOGE bros The Washington Post, 2/25/25 |
1/30/25
Disruption:
Jeremy Lewin and Elon Musk order the acting head of USAID to comply with orders to lock every USAID employee worldwide out of all email and other communication systems. He refuses, stating that a sudden loss of access could get aid workers killed.
Disruption:
Jeremy Lewin and Elon Musk order the acting head of USAID to comply with orders to lock every USAID employee worldwide out of all email and other communication systems. He refuses, stating that a sudden loss of access could get aid workers killed.
| Person: | Jeremy Lewin, Peter Marocco, Elon Musk |
| Source: | Within two weeks of President Trump’s return to the White House, U.S.A.I.D. was on the cusp of oblivion The New York Times, 6/22/25 |
| Agency: | USAID |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination, Impunity |
2/01/25
Appointed:
Peter Marocco starts at USAID.
Appointed:
Peter Marocco starts at USAID.
| Appointed: | Peter Marocco 2/01/25-3/19/25 |
| Source: | Two Officials Who Helped Dismantle U.S. Aid Agency Are Named as Its New Leaders The New York Times, 3/19/25 |
| Source: | Trump fires chief of the federal consumer watchdog agency National Public Radio, 2/01/25 |
| Agency: | CFPB |
| DOGE Project: | Deregulation, Elimination |
Disruption:
The main USAID website and 6 other related websites are taken offline by DOGE.
Disruption:
The main USAID website and 6 other related websites are taken offline by DOGE.
| Source: | US Government Websites Are Disappearing in Real Time Wired Magazine, 2/01/25 |
| Agency: | USAID |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
Disruption:
Approximately 2000 USAID email accounts are deactivated without warning.
Disruption:
Approximately 2000 USAID email accounts are deactivated without warning.
| Source: | USAID website goes dark, staff emails deactivated amid DOGE takeover, source says FedScoop, 2/02/25 |
| Agency: | USAID |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
2/02/25
| Source: | How Elon Musk boosted false USAID conspiracy theories to shut down global aid NBC News, 2/07/25 |
| Agency: | USAID |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
2/03/25
Appointed:
Marco Rubio starts as Acting Administrator at USAID.
Appointed:
Marco Rubio starts as Acting Administrator at USAID.
| Appointed: | Marco Rubio 2/03/25-8/29/25 |
| Position Title: | Acting Administrator |
| Source: | Rubio hands off USAID closeout to OMB Director Vought Politico, 8/29/25 |
| Source: | Secretary Marco Rubio Appointed as Acting Administrator for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) US Department of State, 2/03/25 |
Official Action:
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is named the acting director of the CFPB and orders staff to immediately halt all work pending review.
Official Action:
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is named the acting director of the CFPB and orders staff to immediately halt all work pending review.
| Source: | Treasury Secretary Bessent, tapped to run CFPB, orders staff to halt work National Public Radio, 2/03/25 |
| Agency: | CFPB |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination, Anti-Personnel |
Report:
Brian Bjelde holds a meeting with senior staff at OPM, directing them to prepare plans to eliminate 70% of the agency’s workforce at some unspecified point in the future. They are also told to identify 30% of staff that could be eliminated in the near term.
Report:
Brian Bjelde holds a meeting with senior staff at OPM, directing them to prepare plans to eliminate 70% of the agency’s workforce at some unspecified point in the future. They are also told to identify 30% of staff that could be eliminated in the near term.
| Person: | Brian Bjelde |
| Source: | Senior staff at the Office of Personnel Management told to prepare for eventual cuts to 70% of their workforce CNN, 2/03/25 |
| Agency: | OPM |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination, Anti-Personnel |
| Source: | Elon Musk says he and Trump are shutting down USAID NBC News, 2/03/25 |
| Agency: | USAID |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
2/04/25
Disruption:
All USAID staff are informed by email they will soon be placed on indefinite administrative leave. The message is sent from the USAID email address of Gavin Kliger.
Disruption:
All USAID staff are informed by email they will soon be placed on indefinite administrative leave. The message is sent from the USAID email address of Gavin Kliger.
| Source: | J. Doe 4 v. Musk, doc 111-1 Court Document, 5/01/25 |
| Agency: | USAID |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
2/07/25
Detailed To:
Detailed To:
| GSA Detailed To: CFPB Luke Farritor 2/07/25-3/04/25 | |
| Source: | AFL-CIO v. DOL, doc 73-2 Court Document, 3/29/25 |
| GSA Detailed To: CFPB Jeremy Lewin 2/07/25 | |
| Source: | AFL-CIO v. DOL, doc 80-5 Court Document, 4/18/25 |
Detailed To:
Detailed To:
| OPM Detailed To: CFPB Gavin Kliger 2/07/25-5/08/25 | |
| Source: | DOGE Employee Who Screamed for CFPB Job Cuts Leaves Agency Bloomberg Law, 5/08/25 |
| OPM Detailed To: CFPB Nikhil Rajpal 2/07/25-3/21/25 | |
| Source: | AFL-CIO v. DOL, doc 73-2 Court Document, 3/29/25 |
| OPM Detailed To: CFPB Chris Young 2/07/25-6/06/25 | |
| Note: | Identified as OPM-14; govt testified on 6/27 no longer a govt employee, inferring date from end of OPM service |
Detailed To:
Detailed To:
| DOGE Detailed To: CFPB Jordan Wick 2/07/25-3/04/25 | |
| Source: | AFL-CIO v. DOL, doc 80-5 Court Document, 4/18/25 |
| Note: | detail ended because he became a full-time CFPB employee on 3/5 |
:
:
| System Access: | PAC: Physical Access Control |
| : | unknown, 2/07/25-5/08/25 Gavin Kliger |
| Note: | Possibly a system for controlling and monitoring physical access to CFPB buildings |
| DOGE Project: | Anti-Personnel, Elimination, Impunity |
| Person: | Elon Musk |
| Source: | Musk’s DOGE Descends on CFPB With Eyes on Shutting It Down Bloomberg Law, 2/07/25 |
| Agency: | CFPB |
| DOGE Project: | Deregulation, Elimination |
Disruption:
DOGE posts a tweet boasting about the removal of signage on the headquarters for USAID.
Disruption:
DOGE posts a tweet boasting about the removal of signage on the headquarters for USAID.
| Source: | Tweet by DOGE X.com, 2/07/25 |
| Agency: | USAID |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
Disruption:
All USAID staff are placed on indefinite administrative leave, as a way of locking them out of systems and keeping them out of the way of DOGE’s activities at the agency.
Disruption:
All USAID staff are placed on indefinite administrative leave, as a way of locking them out of systems and keeping them out of the way of DOGE’s activities at the agency.
| Source: | USAID to be reduced to about 290 foreign service officers and civil servants NBC News, 2/06/25 |
| Agency: | USAID |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination, Impunity |
2/08/25
Appointed:
Russell Vought starts as Acting Director at CFPB.
Appointed:
Russell Vought starts as Acting Director at CFPB.
| Appointed: | Russell Vought 2/08/25 |
| Position Title: | Acting Director |
| Source: | OMB head Russell Vought takes over as CFPB as acting head, DOGE team deletes X account CNN, 2/08/25 |
2/09/25
Disruption:
Using their admin access, Gavin Kliger and Luke Farritor completely disable accounts for all other USAID staff on the agency’s system for creating and tracking payments. They now have absolute control.
Disruption:
Using their admin access, Gavin Kliger and Luke Farritor completely disable accounts for all other USAID staff on the agency’s system for creating and tracking payments. They now have absolute control.
| Person: | Luke Farritor, Gavin Kliger |
| Source: | The blinding contempt of the DOGE bros The Washington Post, 2/25/25 |
| Agency: | USAID |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination, Impunity |
2/10/25
Appointed:
Justin Aimonetti starts at GSA.
Appointed:
Justin Aimonetti starts at GSA.
| Appointed: | Justin Aimonetti 2/10/25-7/30/25 |
| Salary: | $167,503 |
| Source: | Leaked List Shows DOGE is Lawyering Up The Intercept, 3/05/25 |
| Source: | Data Reveals Details About DOGE, Government Hiring in 2025 Bloomberg, 1/09/26 |
| Source: | FOIA response by GSA for visitor logs in 2025 Document Cloud, 4/10/26 |
| Source: | LinkedIn post from Justin Aimonetti LinkedIn, 7/30/25 |
| Note: | start date derived from GSA visitor logs |
Disruption:
In an email sent to all staff, Russell Vought orders the CFPB’s headquarters to be indefinitely closed. He also orders: “Please do not perform any work tasks. If there are any urgent matters, please alert me through Mark Paoletta, Chief Legal Officer, to get approval in writing before performing any work task. Otherwise, employees should stand down from performing any work task.”
Disruption:
In an email sent to all staff, Russell Vought orders the CFPB’s headquarters to be indefinitely closed. He also orders: “Please do not perform any work tasks. If there are any urgent matters, please alert me through Mark Paoletta, Chief Legal Officer, to get approval in writing before performing any work task. Otherwise, employees should stand down from performing any work task.”
| Person: | Russell Vought |
| Source: | NTEU v. Russell Vought, doc 87 Court Document, 3/28/25 |
| Agency: | CFPB |
| DOGE Project: | Deregulation, Elimination |
Report:
In a meeting providing him with an overview of DHS programs, Kyle Schutt stuns federal staff in the Office of Civil Rights by declaring one of their programs (CRCL) looks like money laundering.
Report:
In a meeting providing him with an overview of DHS programs, Kyle Schutt stuns federal staff in the Office of Civil Rights by declaring one of their programs (CRCL) looks like money laundering.
| Person: | Kyle Schutt |
| Source: | DOGE’s Marko Elez is back on U.S. payroll Politico, 3/29/25 |
| Agency: | DHS |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
2/11/25
Disruption:
CFPB Contracting Officers (COs) are ordered to terminate the vast majority of CFPB’s contracts over the weekend (“We need to get these Termination Notifications out ASAP.”) This includes “Enforcement (102 contracts), Supervision (16 contracts), External Affairs (3 contracts), Consumer Response (20 contracts), Office of Director (33 contracts), and Legal Division (all except 2 contracts).”
Disruption:
CFPB Contracting Officers (COs) are ordered to terminate the vast majority of CFPB’s contracts over the weekend (“We need to get these Termination Notifications out ASAP.”) This includes “Enforcement (102 contracts), Supervision (16 contracts), External Affairs (3 contracts), Consumer Response (20 contracts), Office of Director (33 contracts), and Legal Division (all except 2 contracts).”
| Source: | NTEU v. Russell Vought, doc 87 Court Document, 3/28/25 |
| Agency: | CFPB |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination, Spending |
2/12/25
Disruption:
Adam Martinez, CFPB COO, includes DOGE representatives Jordan Wick and Chris Young in emails hiring OPM for consulting on Reduction-in-Force (RIF) planning for the CFPB. CFPB agrees to pay OPM $171,925 for these services.
Disruption:
Adam Martinez, CFPB COO, includes DOGE representatives Jordan Wick and Chris Young in emails hiring OPM for consulting on Reduction-in-Force (RIF) planning for the CFPB. CFPB agrees to pay OPM $171,925 for these services.
| Person: | Jordan Wick, Chris Young |
| Source: | NTEU v. Russell Vought, doc 87 Court Document, 3/28/25 |
| Agency: | CFPB |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination, Anti-Personnel |
Disruption:
In a meeting on foreign aid at OMB, Russell Vought stuns staffers by asking them to cut foreign aid to the greatest extent possible. When told that the cuts will lead to more people dying, he reportedly nonchalantly replied “you could say that about any of these cuts.” He also inquires about dismantling the USIP completely. When told it was independent and funded by Congress, he replied, “we’ll see what we can do.”
Disruption:
In a meeting on foreign aid at OMB, Russell Vought stuns staffers by asking them to cut foreign aid to the greatest extent possible. When told that the cuts will lead to more people dying, he reportedly nonchalantly replied “you could say that about any of these cuts.” He also inquires about dismantling the USIP completely. When told it was independent and funded by Congress, he replied, “we’ll see what we can do.”
| Person: | Russell Vought |
| Source: | The Shadow President Pro Publica, 10/17/25 |
| Agency: | OMB, State, USAID, USIP |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination, Spending |
2/13/25
Disruption:
The CFPB RIF team, including Adam Martinez meets with Jordan Wick, Jeremy Lewin, and OPM officials on a video call. Jeremy Lewin and Jordan Wick talk off screen with Acting Director Russell Vought, and Wick tells the group that they want formal RIF notices to go out no later than February 14. The team receives a template from OPM for firing 1200 employees “at night on the 13th.”
Disruption:
The CFPB RIF team, including Adam Martinez meets with Jordan Wick, Jeremy Lewin, and OPM officials on a video call. Jeremy Lewin and Jordan Wick talk off screen with Acting Director Russell Vought, and Wick tells the group that they want formal RIF notices to go out no later than February 14. The team receives a template from OPM for firing 1200 employees “at night on the 13th.”
| Person: | Jeremy Lewin, Russell Vought, Jordan Wick |
| Source: | NTEU v. Russell Vought, doc 87 Court Document, 3/28/25 |
| Agency: | CFPB |
| DOGE Project: | Deregulation, Elimination, Anti-Personnel |
2/14/25
Disruption:
The CFPB’s videos are removed from its YouTube channel.
Disruption:
The CFPB’s videos are removed from its YouTube channel.
| Source: | Trump admin pulls hundreds of videos from CFPB’s YouTube channel The Verge, 2/14/25 |
| Agency: | CFPB |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
2/19/25
Report:
USADF board member Ward Brehm becomes aware that his agency is going to be targeted by DOGE for elimination.
Report:
USADF board member Ward Brehm becomes aware that his agency is going to be targeted by DOGE for elimination.
| Source: | Brehm v. Marocco, doc 7-2 Court Document, 3/06/25 |
| Agency: | USADF |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
Official Action:
Trump issues EO 14217, which explicitly targets the Presidio Trust, the Inter-American Foundation, the United States African Development Foundation and the United States Institute of Peace for reductions.
Official Action:
Trump issues EO 14217, which explicitly targets the Presidio Trust, the Inter-American Foundation, the United States African Development Foundation and the United States Institute of Peace for reductions.
| Source: | Executive Order: Commencing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy Executive Office of the President, 2/19/25 |
| Agency: | IAF, USADF, USIP |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
2/20/25
Detailed To:
Detailed To:
| GSA Detailed To: USADF Ethan Shaotran 2/20/25 | |
| Source: | Detailing agreement for Ethan Shaotran from GSA to USADF Document Cloud, 3/21/25 |
Disruption:
At an internal planning meeting for the temporarily paused Reduction In Force, CFPB COO Adam Martinez confirms the White House plan was to completely end the CFPB within 30 days. The plan was to reduce the CFPB to “five guys and a phone,” ie to the minimum number of positions that were mandated by the text of Dodd-Frank (the bill that created the CFPB). Staff were informed there was no need to abide by federal data retention regulations because there would be nothing left of the agency to maintain.
Disruption:
At an internal planning meeting for the temporarily paused Reduction In Force, CFPB COO Adam Martinez confirms the White House plan was to completely end the CFPB within 30 days. The plan was to reduce the CFPB to “five guys and a phone,” ie to the minimum number of positions that were mandated by the text of Dodd-Frank (the bill that created the CFPB). Staff were informed there was no need to abide by federal data retention regulations because there would be nothing left of the agency to maintain.
| Source: | NTEU v. Russell Vought, doc 87 Court Document, 3/28/25 |
| Agency: | CFPB |
| DOGE Project: | Deregulation, Elimination |
2/21/25
Detailed To:
Detailed To:
| OPM? Detailed To: USADF Jacob Altik 2/21/25 | |
| Source: | Brehm v. Marocco, doc 7-3 Court Document, 3/06/25 |
| Note: | info in govt legal declation |
Detailed To:
Detailed To:
| GSA? Detailed To: USADF Nate Cavanaugh 2/21/25 | |
| Source: | Brehm v. Marocco, doc 7-3 Court Document, 3/06/25 |
| Note: | verified via court filing |
| Source: | Brehm v. Marocco, doc 7-3 Court Document, 3/06/25 |
| Agency: | IAF |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
Disruption:
Once the MOU is signed, DOGE staff reveal their real purpose is to conduct a massive reduction in agency staff and scope and demand they must file a RIF plan by February 24th.
Disruption:
Once the MOU is signed, DOGE staff reveal their real purpose is to conduct a massive reduction in agency staff and scope and demand they must file a RIF plan by February 24th.
| Person: | Jacob Altik, Nate Cavanaugh, Ethan Shaotran |
| Source: | Brehm v. Marocco, doc 7-3 Court Document, 3/06/25 |
| Agency: | USADF |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
System Access:
Nate Cavanaugh and Jacob Altik then demanded immediate access to USADF systems including financial records and payment and human resources systems. They were told they had to go through standard clearance process.
System Access:
Nate Cavanaugh and Jacob Altik then demanded immediate access to USADF systems including financial records and payment and human resources systems. They were told they had to go through standard clearance process.
| Person: | Jacob Altik, Nate Cavanaugh |
| Source: | Brehm v. Marocco, doc 7-3 Court Document, 3/06/25 |
| Agency: | USADF |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination, Spending |
Disruption:
Jacob Altik demands waivers to exempt DOGE staff from background checks. He also threatens to fire the USADF board if DOGE’s demands are not met.
Disruption:
Jacob Altik demands waivers to exempt DOGE staff from background checks. He also threatens to fire the USADF board if DOGE’s demands are not met.
| Person: | Jacob Altik |
| Source: | Brehm v. Marocco, doc 7-3 Court Document, 3/06/25 |
| Agency: | USADF |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination, Impunity |
| Source: | Brehm v. Marocco, doc 7-3 Court Document, 3/06/25 |
| Agency: | USADF |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination, IT Modernization |
Interagency Coordination:
Ethan Shaotran and Nate Cavanaugh return to the IAF with Jacob Altik, who presented himself as representing the EOP. Altik confirms that DOGE plans to reduce IAF to what he considers the statutory minimum (a board and president, a location in DC, some grants) and DOGE will be conducting a Reduction in Force of all employees and terminating all grants. The demand approval from the board and threaten the board will be fired otherwise.
Interagency Coordination:
Ethan Shaotran and Nate Cavanaugh return to the IAF with Jacob Altik, who presented himself as representing the EOP. Altik confirms that DOGE plans to reduce IAF to what he considers the statutory minimum (a board and president, a location in DC, some grants) and DOGE will be conducting a Reduction in Force of all employees and terminating all grants. The demand approval from the board and threaten the board will be fired otherwise.
| Person: | Jacob Altik, Nate Cavanaugh, Ethan Shaotran |
| Source: | Aviel v. Gor, doc 35-2 Court Document, 4/18/25 |
| Agency: | IAF, GSA, DOGE |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination, Anti-Personnel, Spending |
2/23/25
Disruption:
Employees at USAID receive emails with a “Specific Notice of a RIF” effective in 60 days and signed by Peter Marocco. Many employees had already been placed on administrative leave.
Disruption:
Employees at USAID receive emails with a “Specific Notice of a RIF” effective in 60 days and signed by Peter Marocco. Many employees had already been placed on administrative leave.
| Person: | Peter Marocco |
| Source: | J. Doe 4 v. Musk, doc 111-1 Court Document, 5/01/25 |
| Agency: | USAID |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
2/24/25
Detailed To:
Detailed To:
| GSA Detailed To: DOGE Justin Aimonetti 2/24/25-7/26/25 | |
| Source: | The Authors Guild/American Council of Learned Societies v. National Endowment for the Humanities, doc 122-2 Court Document, 2/17/26 |
Disruption:
The head of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is placed on administrative leave and eventually dismissed. She is replaced in the position by Chris Chapman, who is subsequently fired in mass layoffs on March 11th. The agency was leaderless until July 7, when it was added as additional responosibilities for another executive in the Department of Education.
Disruption:
The head of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is placed on administrative leave and eventually dismissed. She is replaced in the position by Chris Chapman, who is subsequently fired in mass layoffs on March 11th. The agency was leaderless until July 7, when it was added as additional responosibilities for another executive in the Department of Education.
| Source: | Suddenly Sacked: The Final Days of Former NCES Chief’s Term and the Future of Education Data The Hechinger Report, 7/14/25 |
| Agency: | Ed. |
| DOGE Project: | Anti-DEI, Elimination |
Disruption:
The IAF President Sara Aviel joins a call with Nate Cavanaugh and Jacob Altik, who claim that all but one of the board members have been terminated. They demand that Aviel approves DOGE’s plan for the agency – which she declines to do – and that she sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) assigning a DOGE member to the agency and granting them access to systems. After the call, she confirms that no board members had received a termination notice.
Disruption:
The IAF President Sara Aviel joins a call with Nate Cavanaugh and Jacob Altik, who claim that all but one of the board members have been terminated. They demand that Aviel approves DOGE’s plan for the agency – which she declines to do – and that she sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) assigning a DOGE member to the agency and granting them access to systems. After the call, she confirms that no board members had received a termination notice.
| Source: | Aviel v. Gor, doc 35-2 Court Document, 4/18/25 |
| Agency: | IAF |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination, Impunity |
Disruption:
USADF President/CEO Ward Brehm receives an email from White House Deputy Director of Personnel Trent Morse notifying him that he is now removed from tbe board.
Disruption:
USADF President/CEO Ward Brehm receives an email from White House Deputy Director of Personnel Trent Morse notifying him that he is now removed from tbe board.
| Person: | Trent Morse |
| Source: | Brehm v. Marocco, doc 7-3 Court Document, 3/06/25 |
| Agency: | USADF |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
Report:
The DOGE delegation counters to USIP leadership with their belief that minimum statutory size of agency is “a Board of Directors and a president, reports to Congress and the Executive branch, and expenses incident to the Board of Directors” and says they will regroup and return.
Report:
The DOGE delegation counters to USIP leadership with their belief that minimum statutory size of agency is “a Board of Directors and a president, reports to Congress and the Executive branch, and expenses incident to the Board of Directors” and says they will regroup and return.
| Person: | Jacob Altik, James Burnham, Nate Cavanaugh |
| Source: | USIP v. Jackson, doc 1-2 Court Document, 3/18/25 |
| Agency: | USIP |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
2/26/25
Disruption:
IAF President Sara Aviel receives an email from White House Deputy Director of Presidential Personnel Trent Morse informing her that President Trump has now terminated her position.
Disruption:
IAF President Sara Aviel receives an email from White House Deputy Director of Presidential Personnel Trent Morse informing her that President Trump has now terminated her position.
| Source: | Aviel v. Gor, doc 35-6 Court Document, 4/18/25 |
| Agency: | IAF |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination, Spending |
Disruption:
The IAF President Sara Aviel learns in the morning that the Senior Procurement Executive at the Treasury had been ordered by DOGE to unilaterally cancel all contracts by the end of business on the following day.
Disruption:
The IAF President Sara Aviel learns in the morning that the Senior Procurement Executive at the Treasury had been ordered by DOGE to unilaterally cancel all contracts by the end of business on the following day.
| Source: | Aviel v. Gor, doc 35-5 Court Document, 4/18/25 |
| Agency: | IAF, Treas. |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination, Spending |
2/28/25
Appointed:
Peter Marocco starts as President/CEO at IAF.
Appointed:
Peter Marocco starts as President/CEO at IAF.
| Appointed: | Peter Marocco 2/28/25-4/04/25 |
| Position Title: | President/CEO |
| Source: | Brehm v. Marocco, doc 7-3 Court Document, 3/06/25 |
| Note: | Assuming removed with Sara Aviel reinstatement by court order |
Appointed:
Peter Marocco starts as Acting Chair of the Board at USADF.
Appointed:
Peter Marocco starts as Acting Chair of the Board at USADF.
| Appointed: | Peter Marocco 2/28/25 |
| Position Title: | Acting Chair of the Board |
| Source: | Brehm v. Marocco, doc 7-3 Court Document, 3/06/25 |
Detailed To:
Detailed To:
| GSA Detailed To: IAF Nate Cavanaugh 2/28/25-4/04/25 | |
| Source: | Aviel v. Gor, doc 35-2 Court Document, 4/18/25 |
| Note: | agency contact was earlier, but assuming MOU signed when Marocco seized power |
| GSA Detailed To: IAF Ethan Shaotran 2/28/25-4/04/25 | |
| Source: | Aviel v. Gor, doc 35-2 Court Document, 4/18/25 |
| Note: | agency contact was earlier, but assuming MOU signed when Marocco seized power |
3/01/25
Disruption:
TTS administrator Thomas Shedd eliminates 90 members of 18F with a firing email sent at 1:00 AM in the morning and immediately locks them out of their machines.
Disruption:
TTS administrator Thomas Shedd eliminates 90 members of 18F with a firing email sent at 1:00 AM in the morning and immediately locks them out of their machines.
| Person: | Thomas Shedd |
| Source: | GSA eliminates 18F NextGov, 3/01/25 |
| Agency: | GSA |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination, Anti-Personnel |
Disruption:
Hours after the staff is hit with the RIF email, the DNS entry for 18F.gsa.gov is removed
Disruption:
Hours after the staff is hit with the RIF email, the DNS entry for 18F.gsa.gov is removed
| Source: | 18F 18F, |
| Agency: | GSA |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
c.3/01/25
Detailed To:
Detailed To:
| OPM? Detailed To: USAGM Tarak Makecha c.3/01/25 | |
| Source: | Elon Musk’s Demolition Crew Pro Publica Projects, |
| Note: | Date unknown, but assuming with Kliger who was at USAGM in early March |
3/03/25
Legal:
In a hearing for a preliminary injunction, Judge Amy Berman Jackson expresses fears that CFPB will be “choked out of its very existence” while the litigation progresses. Concerned with misleading answers from the admininistration’s lawyers, she orders a evidentiary hearing in a week and continues the restraining order against layoffs.
Legal:
In a hearing for a preliminary injunction, Judge Amy Berman Jackson expresses fears that CFPB will be “choked out of its very existence” while the litigation progresses. Concerned with misleading answers from the admininistration’s lawyers, she orders a evidentiary hearing in a week and continues the restraining order against layoffs.
| Source: | 'Choked out of its very existence': Judge fears Trump will dismantle Consumer Financial Protection Bureau completely before she can stop him Law and Crime, 3/03/25 |
| Agency: | CFPB |
| DOGE Project: | Deregulation, Elimination |
3/04/25
Detailed To:
Detailed To:
| GSA Detailed To: USIP Justin Aimonetti 3/04/25 | |
| Source: | The Authors Guild/American Council of Learned Societies v. National Endowment for the Humanities, doc 248-2 Court Document, 3/06/26 |
| Note: | Inferring from Cavanaugh start |
| GSA? Detailed To: USIP Nate Cavanaugh 3/04/25-3/24/25 | |
| Source: | Brehm v. Marocco, doc 7-2 Court Document, 3/06/25 |
| Note: | verified via court filing |
| GSA Detailed To: USIP Justin Fox 3/04/25 | |
| Source: | The Authors Guild/American Council of Learned Societies v. National Endowment for the Humanities, doc 248-2 Court Document, 3/06/26 |
| Note: | Inferring from Nate Cavanaugh start |
Offboarding:
Luke Farritor ends detailed position at CFPB
Offboarding:
Luke Farritor ends detailed position at CFPB
| GSA Detailed To: CFPB Luke Farritor 2/07/25-3/04/25 | |
| Source: | AFL-CIO v. DOL, doc 73-2 Court Document, 3/29/25 |
Disruption:
Peter Marocco announces himself to staff at IAF as President/CEO. He then begins immediately dismantling all contracts and places all staff on administrative leave for 30 days to prevent them from interfering or monitoring DOGE’s actions at the agency.
Disruption:
Peter Marocco announces himself to staff at IAF as President/CEO. He then begins immediately dismantling all contracts and places all staff on administrative leave for 30 days to prevent them from interfering or monitoring DOGE’s actions at the agency.
| Person: | Peter Marocco |
| Source: | Brehm v. Marocco, doc 7-3 Court Document, 3/06/25 |
| Agency: | IAF |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination, Impunity, Spending |
Disruption:
DOGE brags on its X account that the Inter-American Foundation (IAF) has been reduced to a single employee.
Disruption:
DOGE brags on its X account that the Inter-American Foundation (IAF) has been reduced to a single employee.
| Source: | Tweet by DOGE X.com, 3/04/25 |
| Agency: | IAF |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
Disruption:
DOGE takes the Inter-American Foundation’s website offline.
Disruption:
DOGE takes the Inter-American Foundation’s website offline.
| Source: | Aviel v. Gor, doc 35-2 Court Document, 4/18/25 |
| Agency: | IAF |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
Disruption:
Peter Marocco sends emails to all grantees terminating all of IAF’s existing grants except for a single one that was almost completely disbursed by that point.
Disruption:
Peter Marocco sends emails to all grantees terminating all of IAF’s existing grants except for a single one that was almost completely disbursed by that point.
| Person: | Peter Marocco |
| Source: | Aviel v. Gor, doc 35-2 Court Document, 4/18/25 |
| Agency: | IAF |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination, Spending |
c.3/04/25
Detailed To:
Detailed To:
| GSA Detailed To: IAF Justin Fox c.3/04/25 | |
| Source: | The Authors Guild/American Council of Learned Societies v. National Endowment for the Humanities, doc 248-2 Court Document, 3/06/26 |
| Note: | start inferred from DOGE at IAF, but after start at GSA |
c.3/05/25
Disruption:
Peter Marocco names the remaining single employee not on admininstrative leave at the agency, the Chief Information Security Officer, as the new President of the Inter-American Foundation.
Disruption:
Peter Marocco names the remaining single employee not on admininstrative leave at the agency, the Chief Information Security Officer, as the new President of the Inter-American Foundation.
| Source: | Aviel v. Gor, doc 35-2 Court Document, 4/18/25 |
| Agency: | IAF |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
3/05/25
| Source: | USIP v. Jackson, doc 1-2 Court Document, 3/18/25 |
| Agency: | USIP, OMB |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
3/08/25
Sighting:
USIP President George Moose becomes aware that DOGE is conducting some sort of reconnaisance with respect to USIP’s security operations and the contractor who handles physical security at their building.
Sighting:
USIP President George Moose becomes aware that DOGE is conducting some sort of reconnaisance with respect to USIP’s security operations and the contractor who handles physical security at their building.
| Source: | USIP v. Jackson, doc 1-2 Court Document, 3/18/25 |
| Agency: | USIP |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
3/12/25
Disruption:
Shelly C. Lowe, the chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities, is forced out of her position by President Trump. She is replaced by Michael McDonald as acting chairman.
Disruption:
Shelly C. Lowe, the chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities, is forced out of her position by President Trump. She is replaced by Michael McDonald as acting chairman.
| Source: | Chair of National Endowment for the Humanities Leaves at Trump’s ‘Direction’ The New York Times, 3/12/25 |
| Agency: | NEH |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
Disruption:
Immediately after the removal of the agency’s chair by the Trump administration, DOGE staffers Nate Cavanaugh and Justin Fox contact NEH IT for access to key systems and arrive at the agency.
Disruption:
Immediately after the removal of the agency’s chair by the Trump administration, DOGE staffers Nate Cavanaugh and Justin Fox contact NEH IT for access to key systems and arrive at the agency.
| Person: | Nate Cavanaugh, Justin Fox |
| Source: | When DOGE Unleashed ChatGPT on the Humanities The New York Times, 3/07/26 |
| Source: | DOGE comes for the little guy Politico, 4/16/25 |
| Agency: | NEH |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
c.3/13/25
Detailed To:
Detailed To:
| GSA? Detailed To: NEH Justin Fox c.3/13/25 | |
| Source: | The Intercept Media, Inc. v. United States Department of Government Efficiency, doc 1 Court Document, 3/24/25 |
3/14/25
Official Action:
Trump issues a new executive order EO 14238 targeting the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, the United States Agency for Global Media (parent of VOA, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in the Smithsonian Institution, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund and the Minority Business Development Agency for reduction actions by DOGE.
Official Action:
Trump issues a new executive order EO 14238 targeting the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, the United States Agency for Global Media (parent of VOA, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in the Smithsonian Institution, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund and the Minority Business Development Agency for reduction actions by DOGE.
| Source: | Executive Order: Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy Executive Office of the President, 3/14/25 |
| Agency: | IMLS, MBDA, FMCS, USAGM, WWICS |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
3/15/25
Disruption:
In response to Trump’s second executive order against independent agencies (EO 14238), virtually the entire staff of Voice of America (more than 1300 people) are placed on indefinite admininstrative leave.
Disruption:
In response to Trump’s second executive order against independent agencies (EO 14238), virtually the entire staff of Voice of America (more than 1300 people) are placed on indefinite admininstrative leave.
| Source: | Trump has long hated this media outlet. Now he's ordering it dismantled. Politico, 3/15/25 |
| Agency: | USAGM |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
Disruption:
In response to Trump’s executive order targeting independent agencies, Trump’s senior advisor at the agency, Kari Lake, sends out termination notices for all grants to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks. It is unclear if she has the authority to issue such terminations.
Disruption:
In response to Trump’s executive order targeting independent agencies, Trump’s senior advisor at the agency, Kari Lake, sends out termination notices for all grants to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks. It is unclear if she has the authority to issue such terminations.
| Source: | 'Bloody Saturday' at Voice of America and other U.S.-funded networks National Public Radio, 3/15/25 |
| Agency: | USAGM |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
3/17/25
Appointed:
Kenneth Jackson starts as Acting President at USIP.
Appointed:
Kenneth Jackson starts as Acting President at USIP.
| Appointed: | Kenneth Jackson 3/17/25-3/25/25 |
| Position Title: | Acting President |
| Source: | USIP v. Jackson, doc 14-1 Court Document, 3/31/25 |
| Source: | DOGE plays hardball in U.S. Institute of Peace takeover The Washington Post, 3/18/25 |
Disruption:
DOGE members Kenneth Jackson, Jacob Altik and Nate Cavanaugh remove staff and president of the USIP with the help of Office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, the FBI and D.C. police. Kenneth Jackson is named Acting President.
Disruption:
DOGE members Kenneth Jackson, Jacob Altik and Nate Cavanaugh remove staff and president of the USIP with the help of Office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, the FBI and D.C. police. Kenneth Jackson is named Acting President.
| Person: | Jacob Altik, Nate Cavanaugh, Kenneth Jackson |
| Source: | USIP v. Jackson, doc 1-2 Court Document, 3/18/25 |
| Source: | DOGE plays hardball in U.S. Institute of Peace takeover The Washington Post, 3/18/25 |
| Agency: | USIP |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
3/18/25
Appointed:
Appointed:
| Appointed: | Kenneth Jackson 3/18/25 |
| Position Title: | Deputy Administrator (Management and Resources) |
| Source: | J. Doe 4 v. Musk, doc 77-2 Court Document, 3/19/25 |
| Appointed: | Jeremy Lewin 3/18/25 |
| Position Title: | Deputy Administrator(Policy and Programming) / COO |
| Source: | J. Doe 4 v. Musk, doc 77-2 Court Document, 3/19/25 |
3/19/25
Offboarding:
Peter Marocco leaves role at USAID
Offboarding:
Peter Marocco leaves role at USAID
| Appointed: | Peter Marocco 2/01/25-3/19/25 |
| Source: | Two Officials Who Helped Dismantle U.S. Aid Agency Are Named as Its New Leaders The New York Times, 3/19/25 |
Disruption:
DOGE-affiliated staff start removing interior signage from the USIP building.
Disruption:
DOGE-affiliated staff start removing interior signage from the USIP building.
| Source: | Bluesky post by Marisa Kabas The Handbasket, 3/19/25 |
| Agency: | USIP |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
3/20/25
Appointed:
Keith Sonderling starts as Acting Director at IMLS.
Appointed:
Keith Sonderling starts as Acting Director at IMLS.
| Appointed: | Keith Sonderling 3/20/25 |
| Position Title: | Acting Director |
| Source: | DOGE Descends on the Institute for Museum and Library Services ArtNet News, 3/20/25 |
Sighting:
DOGE arrives at IMLS HQ and are startled to find most of the staff there. The DOGE representatives quickly swear in Keith Sonderling as acting director of IMLS and then leave.
Sighting:
DOGE arrives at IMLS HQ and are startled to find most of the staff there. The DOGE representatives quickly swear in Keith Sonderling as acting director of IMLS and then leave.
| Person: | Keith Sonderling |
| Source: | DOGE Descends on the Institute for Museum and Library Services ArtNet News, 3/20/25 |
| Agency: | IMLS |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
Official Action:
After being sworn in as the acting director of the IMLS, Keith Sonderling issues a statement that he “will revitalize IMLS and restore focus on patriotism, ensuring we preserve our country’s core values, promote American exceptionalism and cultivate love of country in future generations.”
Official Action:
After being sworn in as the acting director of the IMLS, Keith Sonderling issues a statement that he “will revitalize IMLS and restore focus on patriotism, ensuring we preserve our country’s core values, promote American exceptionalism and cultivate love of country in future generations.”
| Person: | Keith Sonderling |
| Source: | Keith E. Sonderling Sworn In as Acting Director of Institute of Museum and Library Services Institute of Museum and Library Services, 3/20/25 |
| Agency: | IMLS |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
Disruption:
The USIP website is taken offline.
Disruption:
The USIP website is taken offline.
| Source: | Bluesky post by Marisa Kabas The Handbasket, 3/20/25 |
| Agency: | USIP |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
3/21/25
Offboarding:
Nikhil Rajpal ends detailed position at CFPB
Offboarding:
Nikhil Rajpal ends detailed position at CFPB
| OPM Detailed To: CFPB Nikhil Rajpal 2/07/25-3/21/25 | |
| Source: | AFL-CIO v. DOL, doc 73-2 Court Document, 3/29/25 |
3/22/25?
Detailed To:
Detailed To:
| GSA? Detailed To: MCC Nate Cavanaugh 3/22/25? | |
| Source: | DOGE has tried to embed beyond the executive branch. Some targets have pushed back National Public Radio, 5/20/25 |
| Note: | Linked to MCC by NPR, start date guessed from disruption there |
| GSA? Detailed To: MCC Justin Fox 3/22/25? | |
| Source: | The Authors Guild/American Council of Learned Societies v. National Endowment for the Humanities, doc 248-2 Court Document, 3/06/26 |
| Source: | DOGE has tried to embed beyond the executive branch. Some targets have pushed back National Public Radio, 5/20/25 |
| Note: | Linked to MCC by NPR, start date guessed from disruption there |
| GSA Detailed To: MCC Jack Stein 3/22/25? | |
| Source: | The Authors Guild/American Council of Learned Societies v. National Endowment for the Humanities, doc 248-2 Court Document, 3/06/26 |
Detailed To:
Detailed To:
| DOGE? Detailed To: MCC Joshua Fox 3/22/25? | |
| Source: | Elon Musk’s Demolition Crew Pro Publica Projects, |
| Note: | Linked to agency by ProPublica |
3/25/25
Appointed:
Nate Cavanaugh starts as Acting President at USIP.
Appointed:
Nate Cavanaugh starts as Acting President at USIP.
| Appointed: | Nate Cavanaugh 3/25/25-7/25/25 |
| Position Title: | Acting President |
| Source: | USIP v. Jackson, doc 14-1 Court Document, 3/31/25 |
| Source: | Major MAGA Media Figure to Take Top Position at One of DOGE’s Biggest Targets The Daily Signal, 7/25/25 |
| Note: | After the rest of board was ousted, Nate was named President of the agency by Marco Rubio and Pete Hegseth. Voided by court order on 2025-05-19 but restored by appeals court on 2025-06-27. Replaced by Darren Beattie on 7/25 |
Offboarding:
Kenneth Jackson leaves role as Acting President at USIP
Offboarding:
Kenneth Jackson leaves role as Acting President at USIP
| Appointed: | Kenneth Jackson 3/17/25-3/25/25 |
| Position Title: | Acting President |
| Source: | USIP v. Jackson, doc 14-1 Court Document, 3/31/25 |
| Source: | DOGE plays hardball in U.S. Institute of Peace takeover The Washington Post, 3/18/25 |
Disruption:
The remaining board of the USIP – Marco Rubio and Mike Hegseth – terminate Kenneth Jackson as the acting president of the USIP and appoint Nate Cavanaugh to the position. The resolution also authorizes Nate Cavanaugh to dispose of the building belonging to the USIP.
Disruption:
The remaining board of the USIP – Marco Rubio and Mike Hegseth – terminate Kenneth Jackson as the acting president of the USIP and appoint Nate Cavanaugh to the position. The resolution also authorizes Nate Cavanaugh to dispose of the building belonging to the USIP.
| Person: | Nate Cavanaugh, Kenneth Jackson, Marco Rubio |
| Source: | USIP v. Jackson, doc 14-1 Court Document, 3/31/25 |
| Agency: | USIP |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
Interagency Coordination:
Nate Cavanaugh contacts the administrator of the GSA to propose transferring the USIP building to them, arguing that USIP won’t need a building because the statute doesn’t mandate it should have one or the staffing to fill it.
Interagency Coordination:
Nate Cavanaugh contacts the administrator of the GSA to propose transferring the USIP building to them, arguing that USIP won’t need a building because the statute doesn’t mandate it should have one or the staffing to fill it.
| Person: | Nate Cavanaugh, Stephen Ehikian |
| Source: | USIP v. Jackson, doc 15-3 Court Document, 3/31/25 |
| Agency: | USIP, GSA |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
3/26/25
Disruption:
The IT department at USAID has been reduced from 100 to only 5 staffers – 3 IT operations employees, a project manager, and a single contracting officer. All employees focused on compliance and security are on administrative leave and a team to coordinate the transfer of IT assets from USAID to the Department of State was disbanded by Jeremy Lewin.
Disruption:
The IT department at USAID has been reduced from 100 to only 5 staffers – 3 IT operations employees, a project manager, and a single contracting officer. All employees focused on compliance and security are on administrative leave and a team to coordinate the transfer of IT assets from USAID to the Department of State was disbanded by Jeremy Lewin.
| Person: | Jeremy Lewin |
| Source: | USAID’s information technology team is down to five members FedScoop, 3/26/25 |
| Agency: | USAID |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
3/27/25
| Source: | HHS Announces Transformation to Make America Healthy Again Department of Health and Human Services, 3/27/25 |
| Agency: | HHS |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination, Anti-Personnel |
3/28/25
Legal:
In a sweeping ruling, judge Amy Berman Jackson grants a preliminary injunction for the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) against Russell Vought, the acting CFPB director. In her ruling, she declares that it is plain that the administration intended to destroy the agency and she found significant parts of its testimony unreliable. In her injunction, she orders the admininistration must refrain from any firing any employee of the CFPB, restore any contracts that were in place before February 11th, reinstate all probationary employees that were fired, ensure that no agency data is deleted and rescind the stop-work order. It is immediately appealed by the administration.
Legal:
In a sweeping ruling, judge Amy Berman Jackson grants a preliminary injunction for the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) against Russell Vought, the acting CFPB director. In her ruling, she declares that it is plain that the administration intended to destroy the agency and she found significant parts of its testimony unreliable. In her injunction, she orders the admininistration must refrain from any firing any employee of the CFPB, restore any contracts that were in place before February 11th, reinstate all probationary employees that were fired, ensure that no agency data is deleted and rescind the stop-work order. It is immediately appealed by the administration.
| Source: | NTEU v. Russell Vought, doc 87 Court Document, 3/28/25 |
| Agency: | CFPB |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination, Anti-Personnel |
Report:
During an interview, the head of HHS Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. reports that DOGE created the new organizational chart for the agency ahead of mass firings. He also claims “we’re not cutting scientists.”
Report:
During an interview, the head of HHS Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. reports that DOGE created the new organizational chart for the agency ahead of mass firings. He also claims “we’re not cutting scientists.”
| Source: | RFK Jr. defends HHS job cuts, says ‘We’re not cutting scientists’ News Nation, 3/28/25 |
| Agency: | HHS |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination, Anti-Personnel |
Disruption:
Almost all of the remaining 900 USAID employees are terminated by email from Jeremy Lewin with RIFs that will go into effect either in July or September.
Disruption:
Almost all of the remaining 900 USAID employees are terminated by email from Jeremy Lewin with RIFs that will go into effect either in July or September.
| Person: | Jeremy Lewin |
| Source: | USAID terminates nearly all its remaining employees National Public Radio, 3/28/25 |
| Agency: | USAID |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
Disruption:
Almost all USIP HQ staff (200-300 people) receive termination notices sent late on a Friday night.
Disruption:
Almost all USIP HQ staff (200-300 people) receive termination notices sent late on a Friday night.
| Source: | DOGE fires nearly all staff at U.S. Institute of Peace headquarters The Washington Post, 3/29/25 |
| Agency: | USIP |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
3/31/25
Detailed To:
Detailed To:
| GSA? Detailed To: WWICS Justin Fox 3/31/25 | |
| Source: | DOGE has tried to embed beyond the executive branch. Some targets have pushed back National Public Radio, 5/20/25 |
| Note: | Linked to WWICS by NPR, date is first DOGE sighting at agency |
Detailed To:
Gavin Hamrick detailed from unknown agency to IMLS.
Detailed To:
Gavin Hamrick detailed from unknown agency to IMLS.
| Detailed To: IMLS Gavin Hamrick 3/31/25 | |
| Source: | Bluesky post by Marisa Kabas Bluesky, 3/31/25 |
Disruption:
DOGE wrecker Nate Cavanaugh returns to the IMLS and notifies the entire staff of the agency that they are being put on administrative leave up to 90 days effective immediately.
Disruption:
DOGE wrecker Nate Cavanaugh returns to the IMLS and notifies the entire staff of the agency that they are being put on administrative leave up to 90 days effective immediately.
| Person: | Nate Cavanaugh |
| Source: | State of Rhode Island v. Trump, doc 1-1 Court Document, 4/04/25 |
| Agency: | IMLS |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
Disruption:
Justin Fox sends a letter to the acting head of the NEH, Michael McDonald, expressing frustration that the agency is not moving quickly enough to terminate grants. In his letter, he writes “We’re getting pressure from the top on this and we’d prefer that you remain on our side but let us know if you’re no longer interested.”
Disruption:
Justin Fox sends a letter to the acting head of the NEH, Michael McDonald, expressing frustration that the agency is not moving quickly enough to terminate grants. In his letter, he writes “We’re getting pressure from the top on this and we’d prefer that you remain on our side but let us know if you’re no longer interested.”
| Person: | Nate Cavanaugh, Justin Fox |
| Source: | When DOGE Unleashed ChatGPT on the Humanities The New York Times, 3/07/26 |
| Agency: | NEH |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination, Spending |
Official Action:
In a viral post on X, DOGE calls out what it sees as wasteful spending of the USIP. This includes a $132,000 grant to Mohammad Halimi, a former member of the Taliban who later switched sides and worked for the US and Afghan government. He is now living in exile as a vocal critic, but DOGE accused USIP of “funding the Taliban” by giving him a grant.
Official Action:
In a viral post on X, DOGE calls out what it sees as wasteful spending of the USIP. This includes a $132,000 grant to Mohammad Halimi, a former member of the Taliban who later switched sides and worked for the US and Afghan government. He is now living in exile as a vocal critic, but DOGE accused USIP of “funding the Taliban” by giving him a grant.
| Source: | Getting "DOGEd" Pro Publica, 4/22/25 |
| Agency: | USIP |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination, Spending |
4/01/25
Disruption:
NEH staff members are informed that DOGE is seeking a 70-80% reduction in staff and a cancellation of any grants made under the Biden administration that were not already fully disbursed.
Disruption:
NEH staff members are informed that DOGE is seeking a 70-80% reduction in staff and a cancellation of any grants made under the Biden administration that were not already fully disbursed.
| Person: | Nate Cavanaugh, Justin Fox |
| Source: | The Intercept Media, Inc. v. United States Department of Government Efficiency, doc 1 Court Document, 3/24/25 |
| Agency: | NEH |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination, Spending |
Disruption:
The Defendants in the USIP lawsuit learn that GSA will be leasing the building to the Department of Labor. This is after Nate Cavanaugh transferred its ownership to the GSA.
Disruption:
The Defendants in the USIP lawsuit learn that GSA will be leasing the building to the Department of Labor. This is after Nate Cavanaugh transferred its ownership to the GSA.
| Source: | USIP v. Jackson, doc 34-1 Court Document, 4/18/25 |
| Agency: | USIP |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
Disruption:
Mark Green, a Republican who once worked for Trump, is forced out as the head of the Wilson Center. Several members of the board were also reportedly fired earlier.
Disruption:
Mark Green, a Republican who once worked for Trump, is forced out as the head of the Wilson Center. Several members of the board were also reportedly fired earlier.
| Source: | Musk’s Task Force Begins Shutting Down Foreign Policy Research Center The New York Times, 4/02/25 |
| Agency: | WWICS |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
4/03/25
Disruption:
145 NEH staff members (approximately 80% of workforce) are abruptly placed on administrative leave and locked out of system access. The remaining employees are pressured by Nate Cavanaugh and Justin Fox to formally conduct a Reduction-in-Force (RIF) as quickly as possible.
Disruption:
145 NEH staff members (approximately 80% of workforce) are abruptly placed on administrative leave and locked out of system access. The remaining employees are pressured by Nate Cavanaugh and Justin Fox to formally conduct a Reduction-in-Force (RIF) as quickly as possible.
| Person: | Nate Cavanaugh, Justin Fox |
| Source: | The Intercept Media, Inc. v. United States Department of Government Efficiency, doc 1 Court Document, 3/24/25 |
| Agency: | NEH |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
4/04/25
Offboarding:
Nate Cavanaugh ends detailed position at IAF
Offboarding:
Nate Cavanaugh ends detailed position at IAF
| GSA Detailed To: IAF Nate Cavanaugh 2/28/25-4/04/25 | |
| Source: | Aviel v. Gor, doc 35-2 Court Document, 4/18/25 |
| Note: | agency contact was earlier, but assuming MOU signed when Marocco seized power |
Offboarding:
Peter Marocco leaves role as President/CEO at IAF
Offboarding:
Peter Marocco leaves role as President/CEO at IAF
| Appointed: | Peter Marocco 2/28/25-4/04/25 |
| Position Title: | President/CEO |
| Source: | Brehm v. Marocco, doc 7-3 Court Document, 3/06/25 |
| Note: | Assuming removed with Sara Aviel reinstatement by court order |
Offboarding:
Ethan Shaotran ends detailed position at IAF
Offboarding:
Ethan Shaotran ends detailed position at IAF
| GSA Detailed To: IAF Ethan Shaotran 2/28/25-4/04/25 | |
| Source: | Aviel v. Gor, doc 35-2 Court Document, 4/18/25 |
| Note: | agency contact was earlier, but assuming MOU signed when Marocco seized power |
| Source: | Judge blocks Trump’s takeover of Inter-American Foundation The Hill, 4/04/25 |
| Agency: | IAF |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
Disruption:
DOGE staffers at SSA declare the need for widespread Reductions-in-Force (RIFs) at the agency, despite a previous reduction in staffing of 7000 people and notable degradations in service. Among other cuts, they suggest removing 800 people from the IT department of 4000.
Disruption:
DOGE staffers at SSA declare the need for widespread Reductions-in-Force (RIFs) at the agency, despite a previous reduction in staffing of 7000 people and notable degradations in service. Among other cuts, they suggest removing 800 people from the IT department of 4000.
| Source: | Social Security faces thousands more job cuts even with service in tailspin The Washington Post, 4/04/25 |
| Agency: | SSA |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination, Anti-Personnel |
c.4/07/25
Sighting:
Nate Cavanaugh and Justin Fox begin holding a series of meetings with MCC leadership. Following the DOGE pattern for small independent agencies, this process eventually culminates in termination of all grants and mass layoffs.
Sighting:
Nate Cavanaugh and Justin Fox begin holding a series of meetings with MCC leadership. Following the DOGE pattern for small independent agencies, this process eventually culminates in termination of all grants and mass layoffs.
| Question: | Fuzz: exact date not given, just in “last two weeks” |
| Person: | Nate Cavanaugh, Justin Fox |
| Source: | DOGE is shutting down foreign aid agency Millennium Challenge Corporation Politico, 4/23/25 |
| Agency: | MCC |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination, Spending |
4/08/25
Disruption:
After Rubio and the Trump administration promised to keep many lifesaving humanitarian grant programs active, almost all of them are slashed over the weekend. Some of the cut programs are then restored later. In one example, Peter Marocco ordered staff to comply with White House orders to stop all funds to Afghanistan. In other cases, Jeremy Lewin appears to have been involved with the alterations. USAID staff are not informed directly of these changes but find out from aid organizations whose funds have been affected.
Disruption:
After Rubio and the Trump administration promised to keep many lifesaving humanitarian grant programs active, almost all of them are slashed over the weekend. Some of the cut programs are then restored later. In one example, Peter Marocco ordered staff to comply with White House orders to stop all funds to Afghanistan. In other cases, Jeremy Lewin appears to have been involved with the alterations. USAID staff are not informed directly of these changes but find out from aid organizations whose funds have been affected.
| Person: | Jeremy Lewin, Peter Marocco |
| Source: | U.S. Slashes Many of the Aid Programs It Had Promised to Keep The New York Times, 4/09/25 |
| Agency: | USAID |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination, Spending |
c.4/09/25
Detailed To:
Detailed To:
| GSA Detailed To: MBDA Nate Cavanaugh c.4/09/25 | |
| Source: | State of Rhode Island v. Trump, doc 35-4 Court Document, 4/11/25 |
| Note: | inferred from disruptions at MBDA starting |
Disruption:
The remaining 5 employees of the MBDA are transferred out of the agency.
Disruption:
The remaining 5 employees of the MBDA are transferred out of the agency.
| Question: | Fuzz: Date is unspecified |
| Person: | Nate Cavanaugh, Keith Sonderling |
| Source: | State of Rhode Island v. Trump, doc 35-4 Court Document, 4/11/25 |
| Agency: | MBDA |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
4/09/25
Disruption:
All but 5 employees are sent expedited 30-day termination notices and placed on immediate administrative leave by DOGE staff.
Disruption:
All but 5 employees are sent expedited 30-day termination notices and placed on immediate administrative leave by DOGE staff.
| Person: | Nate Cavanaugh, Keith Sonderling |
| Source: | State of Rhode Island v. Trump, doc 35-4 Court Document, 4/11/25 |
| Agency: | MBDA |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
4/10/25
Disruption:
Most NEH staffers receive Reduction-in-Force (RIF) notices that their positions will be terminated on June 10th.
Disruption:
Most NEH staffers receive Reduction-in-Force (RIF) notices that their positions will be terminated on June 10th.
| Source: | The Intercept Media, Inc. v. United States Department of Government Efficiency, doc 1 Court Document, 3/24/25 |
| Agency: | NEH |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
Disruption:
A leaked OMB budget proposal memorandum propose major changes to the discretionary budget for the Department of Health and Human Services. Specifically, it includes cutting that budget by a third and also consolidating various health and safety-related agencies into a new Administration for a Healthy America (AHA) overseen by the HHS Secretary.
Disruption:
A leaked OMB budget proposal memorandum propose major changes to the discretionary budget for the Department of Health and Human Services. Specifically, it includes cutting that budget by a third and also consolidating various health and safety-related agencies into a new Administration for a Healthy America (AHA) overseen by the HHS Secretary.
| Source: | Recent Developments at the Consumer Product Safety Commission: Potential Changes and Implications National Law Review, 6/18/25 |
| Agency: | HHS, CMS, CDC, NIH, FDA, CPSC |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination, Anti-Personnel |
4/12/25
Interagency Coordination:
CFPB leadership under Russell Vought uses the opening granted by the appeals court to attempt another massive RIF. Emailing from his USAID email account, Jeremy Lewin kicks off the process by providing Gavin Kliger and Adam Martinez with a letter to use for RIFs at the CFPB.
Interagency Coordination:
CFPB leadership under Russell Vought uses the opening granted by the appeals court to attempt another massive RIF. Emailing from his USAID email account, Jeremy Lewin kicks off the process by providing Gavin Kliger and Adam Martinez with a letter to use for RIFs at the CFPB.
| Person: | Gavin Kliger, Jeremy Lewin |
| Source: | NTEU v. Russell Vought, doc 128-2 Court Document, 4/26/25 |
| Agency: | CFPB, USAID |
| DOGE Project: | Deregulation, Elimination, Anti-Personnel |
Interagency Coordination:
Gavin Kliger begins working with Adam Martinez of CFPB and Jeremy Lewin at USAID on the infrastructure to automate a massive RIF at the CFPB. This includes scripts to send termination letters to each employee.
Interagency Coordination:
Gavin Kliger begins working with Adam Martinez of CFPB and Jeremy Lewin at USAID on the infrastructure to automate a massive RIF at the CFPB. This includes scripts to send termination letters to each employee.
| Person: | Gavin Kliger, Jeremy Lewin |
| Source: | NTEU v. Russell Vought, doc 131-1 Court Document, 4/26/25 |
| Agency: | CFPB, USAID |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination, Anti-Personnel |
4/13/25
Offboarding:
Peter Marocco leaves role as Director of Foreign Assistance at State
Offboarding:
Peter Marocco leaves role as Director of Foreign Assistance at State
| Appointed: | Peter Marocco 1/20/25-4/13/25 |
| Position Title: | Director of Foreign Assistance |
| Salary: | $195,200 |
| Source: | Data Reveals Details About DOGE, Government Hiring in 2025 Bloomberg, 1/09/26 |
| Source: | Trump-appointed official who oversaw dismantling of USAID leaves State Department Reuters, 4/13/25 |
Interagency Coordination:
Jeremy Lewin has a followup Teams call with CFPB chief legal counsel Mark Paoletta to plan for the upcoming massive RIF at the CFPB
Interagency Coordination:
Jeremy Lewin has a followup Teams call with CFPB chief legal counsel Mark Paoletta to plan for the upcoming massive RIF at the CFPB
| Person: | Jeremy Lewin |
| Source: | NTEU v. Russell Vought, doc 131-1 Court Document, 4/26/25 |
| Agency: | CFPB, USAID |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination, Anti-Personnel |
4/16/25
Disruption:
Agency staff at AmeriCorps are placed on immediate administrative leave and banned from accessing agency systems.
Disruption:
Agency staff at AmeriCorps are placed on immediate administrative leave and banned from accessing agency systems.
| Source: | AmeriCorps staff members placed on leave after DOGE visit The Washington Post, 4/16/25 |
| Agency: | AmeriCorps |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination, Anti-Personnel |
Interagency Coordination:
Noah Peters at OPM denies the CFPB request made by Adam Martinez as well as Jeremy Lewin and Gavin Kliger to conduct an “emergency” RIF at the CFPB which would only give employees 30 days before their termination.
Interagency Coordination:
Noah Peters at OPM denies the CFPB request made by Adam Martinez as well as Jeremy Lewin and Gavin Kliger to conduct an “emergency” RIF at the CFPB which would only give employees 30 days before their termination.
| Person: | Gavin Kliger, Jeremy Lewin, Noah Peters |
| Source: | NTEU v. Russell Vought, doc 131-1 Court Document, 4/26/25 |
| Agency: | CFPB, OPM, USAID |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination, Anti-Personnel |
4/17/25
Disruption:
CFPB conducts a massive Reduction-in-Force, eliminating 1483 positions and retaining only 207 people to perform its duties. This is larger than the planned RIF in February that was blocked by Judge Amy Berman-Jackson. It is immediately appealed.
Disruption:
CFPB conducts a massive Reduction-in-Force, eliminating 1483 positions and retaining only 207 people to perform its duties. This is larger than the planned RIF in February that was blocked by Judge Amy Berman-Jackson. It is immediately appealed.
| Source: | NTEU v. Russell Vought, doc 109 Court Document, 4/18/25 |
| Agency: | CFPB |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination, Anti-Personnel |
Official Action:
The Secretary of the Interior formally designates that Tyler Hassen is in charge of implementing cuts to the agency and reorganizing its offices and areas of responsibility.
Official Action:
The Secretary of the Interior formally designates that Tyler Hassen is in charge of implementing cuts to the agency and reorganizing its offices and areas of responsibility.
| Person: | Tyler Hassen |
| Source: | Interior secretary gives DOGE aide sweeping powers to remake department The Washington Post, 4/21/25 |
| Agency: | DOI |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination, Anti-Personnel |
c.4/17/25
Appointed:
Keith Sonderling starts as Acting Undersecretary at MBDA.
Appointed:
Keith Sonderling starts as Acting Undersecretary at MBDA.
| Appointed: | Keith Sonderling c.4/17/25 |
| Position Title: | Acting Undersecretary |
| Source: | Letter from the Senate Commerce Committee to Keith Sonderling about MBDA The Senate Commerce Committee, 4/30/25 |
| Note: | Nate Cavanaugh sent out grant rejections under the authority of Sonderling as Acting Undersecretary |
4/22/25
Report:
Staff at the Millennium Challenge Corporation are informed that DOGE has directed the termination of all grants and the reduction of the staff from 320 to a few dozen.
Report:
Staff at the Millennium Challenge Corporation are informed that DOGE has directed the termination of all grants and the reduction of the staff from 320 to a few dozen.
| Person: | Nate Cavanaugh, Justin Fox |
| Source: | DOGE dismantling foreign aid agency started by George W. Bush National Public Radio, 4/24/25 |
| Agency: | MCC |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination, Spending |
Disruption:
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announces plans for a major reorganization of the State Department that would eliminate 132 offices and terminate roughly 700 positions in DC. It also would reduce monitoring of war crimes and global conflicts.
Disruption:
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announces plans for a major reorganization of the State Department that would eliminate 132 offices and terminate roughly 700 positions in DC. It also would reduce monitoring of war crimes and global conflicts.
| Person: | Marco Rubio |
| Source: | Rubio unveils first stage of major State Department overhaul CNN, 4/22/25 |
| Agency: | State |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination, Anti-Personnel |
4/28/25
Detailed To:
Detailed To:
| GSA? Detailed To: DFC Nate Cavanaugh 4/28/25 | |
| Source: | DOGE targets US foreign aid agency created under first Trump administration Politico, 4/28/25 |
| Note: | Spotted by media |
| GSA? Detailed To: DFC Jonathan Mendelson 4/28/25 | |
| Source: | DOGE targets US foreign aid agency created under first Trump administration Politico, 4/28/25 |
| GSA? Detailed To: DFC Ethan Shaotran 4/28/25 | |
| Source: | DOGE targets US foreign aid agency created under first Trump administration Politico, 4/28/25 |
| GSA Detailed To: DFC Marshall Wood 4/28/25 | |
| Source: | DOGE targets US foreign aid agency created under first Trump administration Politico, 4/28/25 |
5/02/25
Disruption:
Radio Free Asia announces it is laying off 90% of its staff and stopping many of its language services due to the loss of funding after USAGM head Kari Lake terminated all grants in March.
Disruption:
Radio Free Asia announces it is laying off 90% of its staff and stopping many of its language services due to the loss of funding after USAGM head Kari Lake terminated all grants in March.
| Source: | Radio Free Asia announces mass layoffs amid funding fight with Trump administration National Public Radio, 5/02/25 |
| Agency: | USAGM |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
5/08/25
Access Revoked:
Access Revoked:
| System Access: | PAC: Physical Access Control |
| : | unknown, 2/07/25-5/08/25 Gavin Kliger |
| Note: | Possibly a system for controlling and monitoring physical access to CFPB buildings |
| DOGE Project: | Anti-Personnel, Elimination, Impunity |
Offboarding:
Gavin Kliger ends detailed position at CFPB
Offboarding:
Gavin Kliger ends detailed position at CFPB
| OPM Detailed To: CFPB Gavin Kliger 2/07/25-5/08/25 | |
| Source: | DOGE Employee Who Screamed for CFPB Job Cuts Leaves Agency Bloomberg Law, 5/08/25 |
5/13/25
Legal:
Ruling in Rhode Island v. Trump et al, Judge John McConnell Jr. ordered a preliminary injunction declaring that IMLS grants must be processed and staff brought back.
Legal:
Ruling in Rhode Island v. Trump et al, Judge John McConnell Jr. ordered a preliminary injunction declaring that IMLS grants must be processed and staff brought back.
| Source: | Results Vary in Legal Efforts to Restore IMLS Publishers Weekly, 6/18/25 |
| Agency: | IMLS |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination, Anti-Personnel, Spending |
| Source: | State of Rhode Island v. Trump, doc 60 Court Document, 5/13/25 |
| Agency: | IMLS, MBDA, FMCS |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
5/15/25
Disruption:
The US Agency for Global Media starts sending termination notices to contractors, some of whom are on J1 visas and would be forced to leave the country within 30 days.
Disruption:
The US Agency for Global Media starts sending termination notices to contractors, some of whom are on J1 visas and would be forced to leave the country within 30 days.
| Source: | Will SCOTUS throw DOGE a bone? Politico, 5/15/25 |
| Agency: | USAGM |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
5/19/25
Disruption:
Although IMLS staff are returned to their positions by court order, employees complain that the email “reinforced attempts to eliminate staff through trauma, force, and malicious compliance.”
Disruption:
Although IMLS staff are returned to their positions by court order, employees complain that the email “reinforced attempts to eliminate staff through trauma, force, and malicious compliance.”
| Source: | Results Vary in Legal Efforts to Restore IMLS Publishers Weekly, 6/18/25 |
| Agency: | IMLS |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination, Anti-Personnel |
5/20/25
Disruption:
In a post on its X account, DOGE reports that it is working to review surveys conducted by the Census Bureau and claims to have already eliminated 5 surveys that include questions about alcohol consumption and internet usage.
Disruption:
In a post on its X account, DOGE reports that it is working to review surveys conducted by the Census Bureau and claims to have already eliminated 5 surveys that include questions about alcohol consumption and internet usage.
| Source: | Bluesky post by Hansi Lo Wang Bluesky, 5/20/25 |
| Agency: | DOGE, Census |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
5/23/25
Disruption:
Ethan Shaotran sends a Survey of Surveys email to federal agencies asking them to report information on data-collection surveys. This is redundant to the existing survey oversight already conducted by OMB, and there are concerns about what the data will be used for.
Disruption:
Ethan Shaotran sends a Survey of Surveys email to federal agencies asking them to report information on data-collection surveys. This is redundant to the existing survey oversight already conducted by OMB, and there are concerns about what the data will be used for.
| Person: | Ethan Shaotran |
| Source: | DOGE created a 'survey of surveys' for a push to cut some government data collection National Public Radio, 5/23/25 |
| Agency: | GSA |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
5/28/25
Legal:
Former 18F employees file a class-action appeal with the Merit Systems Protection Board stating that GSA did not provide a valid reason for eliminating the agency and the firings were acts of retaliation because of their perceived political affiliations.
Legal:
Former 18F employees file a class-action appeal with the Merit Systems Protection Board stating that GSA did not provide a valid reason for eliminating the agency and the firings were acts of retaliation because of their perceived political affiliations.
| Source: | Former 18F employees file appeal of DOGE firings FedScoop, 5/28/25 |
| Agency: | GSA |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
6/03/25
Offboarding:
Offboarding:
| Appointed: | James Burnham 1/24/25-6/03/25 |
| Position Title: | General Counsel |
| Source: | The Authors Guild/American Council of Learned Societies v. National Endowment for the Humanities, doc 122-2 Court Document, 2/17/26 |
| Source: | Inside Elon Musk’s Plan for DOGE to Slash Government Costs The New York Times, 1/12/25 |
| Note: | NYT reported in DOGE in January, ProPublica provided title |
6/06/25
Offboarding:
Offboarding:
| OPM Detailed To: CFPB Chris Young 2/07/25-6/06/25 | |
| Note: | Identified as OPM-14; govt testified on 6/27 no longer a govt employee, inferring date from end of OPM service |
Report:
Wired reports that TTS Administrator Thomas Shedd is in urgent need of in-house developers and is looking to revamp and restart the Presidential Innovation Fellows program months after it was eliminated due to the hiring freeze and mass layoffs that were initiated by TTS Administrator Thomas Shedd.
Report:
Wired reports that TTS Administrator Thomas Shedd is in urgent need of in-house developers and is looking to revamp and restart the Presidential Innovation Fellows program months after it was eliminated due to the hiring freeze and mass layoffs that were initiated by TTS Administrator Thomas Shedd.
| Person: | Thomas Shedd |
| Source: | DOGE Is on a Recruiting Spree Wired Magazine, 6/06/25 |
| Agency: | GSA |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
6/25/25
Disruption:
In a surprise move, the Republican governor of Virginia, the head of public buildings service at GSA and the Commissioner for HUD announce that they will be kicking out the National Science Foundation (NSF) from its Virginia headquarters and moving HUD to that location. There are no details provided on where NSF is expected to relocate to.
Disruption:
In a surprise move, the Republican governor of Virginia, the head of public buildings service at GSA and the Commissioner for HUD announce that they will be kicking out the National Science Foundation (NSF) from its Virginia headquarters and moving HUD to that location. There are no details provided on where NSF is expected to relocate to.
| Source: | HUD to move into the National Science Foundation headquarters, no current plan on where to relocate NSF employees GovExec, 6/25/25 |
| Agency: | GSA, HUD, NSF |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
6/26/25
Disruption:
The Department of Defense announced that it would immediately stop ingesting and sharing data from 3 microwave-imaging satellites with NOAA’s National Hurricane Center. This imaging is used to prevent “sunrise surprises” by allowing forecasters to monitor hurricanes at night. The change is expected to degrade the quality of hurricane forecasts.
Disruption:
The Department of Defense announced that it would immediately stop ingesting and sharing data from 3 microwave-imaging satellites with NOAA’s National Hurricane Center. This imaging is used to prevent “sunrise surprises” by allowing forecasters to monitor hurricanes at night. The change is expected to degrade the quality of hurricane forecasts.
| Source: | Critical Hurricane Forecast Tool Abruptly Terminated Eye on the Tropics, 6/26/25 |
| Agency: | NOAA, DOD |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
7/01/25
Disruption:
Under the direction of Marco Rubio, USAID officially ceases all operations for foreign aid. A study in the medical journal Lancet suggests that the end of USAID will lead to 14 million deaths worldwide by 2030, with 4.5 million of those being children under that age of 5.
Disruption:
Under the direction of Marco Rubio, USAID officially ceases all operations for foreign aid. A study in the medical journal Lancet suggests that the end of USAID will lead to 14 million deaths worldwide by 2030, with 4.5 million of those being children under that age of 5.
| Source: | Rubio hails end of USAID as study says its elimination could contribute to 14 million deaths in next 5 years CNN, 7/01/25 |
| Agency: | USAID |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination, Spending |
7/04/25
Disruption:
Trump signs the Big Beautiful Bill into law. Among other regressive measures, it slashes the cap on the that the CFPB can pull from by 46% to a maximum of 6.5% of the Federal Reserve operating budget.
Disruption:
Trump signs the Big Beautiful Bill into law. Among other regressive measures, it slashes the cap on the that the CFPB can pull from by 46% to a maximum of 6.5% of the Federal Reserve operating budget.
| Source: | Trump's 'big bill' slashes consumer watchdog CFPB's budget nearly in half Consumer Affairs, 7/08/25 |
| Agency: | CFPB |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
7/11/25
Disruption:
The State Department lays off more than 1300 people – many specializing in violent extremism, refugee resettlement and women’s rights – as part of a sweeping reorganization announced by Marco Rubio on April 22. The terminated staff will be placed on a 120-day administrative leave period before formally losing their jobs.
Disruption:
The State Department lays off more than 1300 people – many specializing in violent extremism, refugee resettlement and women’s rights – as part of a sweeping reorganization announced by Marco Rubio on April 22. The terminated staff will be placed on a 120-day administrative leave period before formally losing their jobs.
| Person: | Marco Rubio |
| Source: | State Department is firing more than 1,300 staff on Friday CNN, 7/11/25 |
| Agency: | State |
| DOGE Project: | Anti-DEI, Elimination |
7/12/25
Disruption:
Almost all USIP staff receive an email on Saturday telling them they are terminated effective immediately.
Disruption:
Almost all USIP staff receive an email on Saturday telling them they are terminated effective immediately.
| Person: | Nate Cavanaugh |
| Source: | US Institute of Peace employees experience another round of mass firings following court ruling CNN, 7/12/25 |
| Agency: | USIP |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
7/14/25
Report:
Although the building is still somewhat in use and staff are being paid, CFPB staff report that the agency has been mostly inoperable for six months and unable to perform its mission to protect the public.
Report:
Although the building is still somewhat in use and staff are being paid, CFPB staff report that the agency has been mostly inoperable for six months and unable to perform its mission to protect the public.
| Source: | Employees at the nation's consumer financial watchdog say it's become toothless under Trump The Associated Press, 7/14/25 |
| Agency: | CFPB |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
7/17/25
Disruption:
Congress passess a $9 billion recissions package that codifies DOGE cuts to foreign aid and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, despite concerns from Democrats and two Senate Republicans that its cuts are purposefully vague and undermine Congress’ role in the budget process.
Disruption:
Congress passess a $9 billion recissions package that codifies DOGE cuts to foreign aid and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, despite concerns from Democrats and two Senate Republicans that its cuts are purposefully vague and undermine Congress’ role in the budget process.
| Source: | Congress Agrees to Claw Back Foreign Aid and Public Broadcast Funds The New York Times, 7/17/25 |
| Agency: | USAID, State, CPB |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination, Spending |
7/25/25
Offboarding:
Nate Cavanaugh leaves role as Acting President at USIP
Offboarding:
Nate Cavanaugh leaves role as Acting President at USIP
| Appointed: | Nate Cavanaugh 3/25/25-7/25/25 |
| Position Title: | Acting President |
| Source: | USIP v. Jackson, doc 14-1 Court Document, 3/31/25 |
| Source: | Major MAGA Media Figure to Take Top Position at One of DOGE’s Biggest Targets The Daily Signal, 7/25/25 |
| Note: | After the rest of board was ousted, Nate was named President of the agency by Marco Rubio and Pete Hegseth. Voided by court order on 2025-05-19 but restored by appeals court on 2025-06-27. Replaced by Darren Beattie on 7/25 |
7/26/25
Offboarding:
Justin Aimonetti ends detailed position at DOGE
Offboarding:
Justin Aimonetti ends detailed position at DOGE
| GSA Detailed To: DOGE Justin Aimonetti 2/24/25-7/26/25 | |
| Source: | The Authors Guild/American Council of Learned Societies v. National Endowment for the Humanities, doc 122-2 Court Document, 2/17/26 |
7/30/25
Offboarding:
Offboarding:
| Appointed: | Justin Aimonetti 2/10/25-7/30/25 |
| Salary: | $167,503 |
| Source: | Leaked List Shows DOGE is Lawyering Up The Intercept, 3/05/25 |
| Source: | Data Reveals Details About DOGE, Government Hiring in 2025 Bloomberg, 1/09/26 |
| Source: | FOIA response by GSA for visitor logs in 2025 Document Cloud, 4/10/26 |
| Source: | LinkedIn post from Justin Aimonetti LinkedIn, 7/30/25 |
| Note: | start date derived from GSA visitor logs |
8/01/25
Disruption:
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting issues a press release announcing that it has commenced an orderly wind-down due to the elimination of funding from both the recissions package as well as the budget for next year. A majority of staff will be let go on the September 30, 2026 with a small team retained for final closedown in January 2026. This is frankly a heartbreaking outcome for an agency that has served America for almost 60 years.
Disruption:
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting issues a press release announcing that it has commenced an orderly wind-down due to the elimination of funding from both the recissions package as well as the budget for next year. A majority of staff will be let go on the September 30, 2026 with a small team retained for final closedown in January 2026. This is frankly a heartbreaking outcome for an agency that has served America for almost 60 years.
| Source: | Corporation for Public Broadcasting Addresses Operations Following Loss of Federal Funding Corporation for Public Broadcasting, 8/01/25 |
| Agency: | CPB |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination, Anti-Personnel |
8/06/25
Offboarding:
Offboarding:
| Appointed: | Nate Cavanaugh c.1/22/25-8/06/25 |
| Salary: | $120,509 |
| Source: | Data Reveals Details About DOGE, Government Hiring in 2025 Bloomberg, 1/09/26 |
| Source: | The Authors Guild/American Council of Learned Societies v. National Endowment for the Humanities, doc 248-1 Court Document, 3/06/26 |
| Source: | Some DOGE Staffers Are Drawing Six-Figure Government Salaries Wired Magazine, 3/04/25 |
| Note: | Testifies started working in early January, but formally a few days after inauguration |
8/29/25
Appointed:
Russell Vought starts as Acting Director at USAID.
Appointed:
Russell Vought starts as Acting Director at USAID.
| Appointed: | Russell Vought 8/29/25 |
| Position Title: | Acting Director |
| Source: | Rubio hands off USAID closeout to OMB Director Vought Politico, 8/29/25 |
Offboarding:
Marco Rubio leaves role as Acting Administrator at USAID
Offboarding:
Marco Rubio leaves role as Acting Administrator at USAID
| Appointed: | Marco Rubio 2/03/25-8/29/25 |
| Position Title: | Acting Administrator |
| Source: | Rubio hands off USAID closeout to OMB Director Vought Politico, 8/29/25 |
| Source: | Secretary Marco Rubio Appointed as Acting Administrator for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) US Department of State, 2/03/25 |
9/29/25
Legal:
Ruling in Widakuswara v. Lake, Judge Lambeth declares that the government must pause its layoff plans at the US Agency for Global Media and lambasted the administration for showing a “concerning disrepect” for the court’s preliminary injunction
Legal:
Ruling in Widakuswara v. Lake, Judge Lambeth declares that the government must pause its layoff plans at the US Agency for Global Media and lambasted the administration for showing a “concerning disrepect” for the court’s preliminary injunction
| Source: | Widakuswara v. Lake, doc 100 Court Document, 9/29/25 |
| Agency: | USAGM |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
10/14/25
Disruption:
Another round of terminations results in the CDC having lost a quarter of its staff – around 3000 people – since the beginning of the Trump administration. The latest firings targeted the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, the National Center for Health Statistics as well as other supporting functions within the agency like human resources, building security and the library.
Disruption:
Another round of terminations results in the CDC having lost a quarter of its staff – around 3000 people – since the beginning of the Trump administration. The latest firings targeted the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, the National Center for Health Statistics as well as other supporting functions within the agency like human resources, building security and the library.
| Source: | A Quarter of the CDC Is Gone Wired Magazine, 10/14/25 |
| Agency: | CDC |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination, Anti-Personnel |
c.10/25/25
Disruption:
Sam Beyda contacts the Peaceable Primate Sanctuary to ask how many of the approximately 200 macaques it can adopt immediately from the CDC’s primate research operations and whether it would be able to adopt all of them by the end of the year.
Disruption:
Sam Beyda contacts the Peaceable Primate Sanctuary to ask how many of the approximately 200 macaques it can adopt immediately from the CDC’s primate research operations and whether it would be able to adopt all of them by the end of the year.
| Person: | Sam Beyda |
| Source: | Exclusive: CDC to end all monkey research Science, 11/21/25 |
| Agency: | CDC |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
11/04/25
Disruption:
Moving under the cover of the government shutdown, NASA leadership has reportedly permanently closed 13 our of 30 buildings on NASA’s Goddard Campus and emptied them of equipment and supplies. This includes highly unique equipment for testing satellites as well as components for future missions to observe the earth and the cosmos.
Disruption:
Moving under the cover of the government shutdown, NASA leadership has reportedly permanently closed 13 our of 30 buildings on NASA’s Goddard Campus and emptied them of equipment and supplies. This includes highly unique equipment for testing satellites as well as components for future missions to observe the earth and the cosmos.
| Source: | NASA may be quietly gutting an iconic campus with what it calls strategic closures, workers fear CNN, 11/04/25 |
| Agency: | NASA |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
c.11/07/25
Disruption:
Disruption:
| Person: | Sam Beyda |
| Source: | Exclusive: CDC to end all monkey research Science, 11/21/25 |
| Agency: | CDC |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
11/19/25
Official Action:
The Department of Health and Human Services proposes 16 initiatives for the CDC to focus on as part of a restructuring and change in direction for the agency. This includes de-emphasizing Hepatitis B vaccination in favor of increased screening. Newly appointed deputy chief of staff Sam Beyda is in charge of 5 out of the 16 initiatives, despite only having graduated from college in 2023 and a lack of public health or leadership experience.
Official Action:
The Department of Health and Human Services proposes 16 initiatives for the CDC to focus on as part of a restructuring and change in direction for the agency. This includes de-emphasizing Hepatitis B vaccination in favor of increased screening. Newly appointed deputy chief of staff Sam Beyda is in charge of 5 out of the 16 initiatives, despite only having graduated from college in 2023 and a lack of public health or leadership experience.
| Person: | Sam Beyda |
| Source: | HHS Proposes New CDC Programs, Including Hepatitis B Screening Bloomberg, 11/20/25 |
| Agency: | CDC |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
11/21/25
| Source: | State of Rhode Island v. Trump, doc 99 Court Document, 11/21/25 |
| Agency: | IMLS, MBDA, FMCS, USICH |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
12/04/25
Official Action:
The State Department posts photos showing that Donald Trump’s name has now been put on the US Institute of Peace facade, with the post acclaiming him as “the greatest dealmaker in our nation’s history.”
Official Action:
The State Department posts photos showing that Donald Trump’s name has now been put on the US Institute of Peace facade, with the post acclaiming him as “the greatest dealmaker in our nation’s history.”
| Source: | U.S. Institute of Peace renamed for Trump after his administration dismantled the agency NBC News, 12/04/25 |
| Agency: | State, USIP |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
1/05/26
Disruption:
The board of directors votes to formally dissolve the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, ending its 58 year history of providing funding for PBS, NPR and local TV and radio stations. This was the inevitable outcome after Congress codified the elimination of funding for the agency.
Disruption:
The board of directors votes to formally dissolve the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, ending its 58 year history of providing funding for PBS, NPR and local TV and radio stations. This was the inevitable outcome after Congress codified the elimination of funding for the agency.
| Source: | Corporation For Public Broadcasting Is Dissolved After 58 Years Of Service The Huffington Post, 1/05/26 |
| Agency: | CPB |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination, Anti-Personnel |
2/02/26
Oversight:
A new report issued by the U.S. Government Accountability Office determines that the Trump Administration’s attempts to dismantle the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) within the Department of Education have cost the federal government more than $28 million. The Department of Education has been blocked from implementing a reduction in force that would reduce the office to 10% of its former size but it has effectively eliminated civil rights enforcement at the agency.
Oversight:
A new report issued by the U.S. Government Accountability Office determines that the Trump Administration’s attempts to dismantle the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) within the Department of Education have cost the federal government more than $28 million. The Department of Education has been blocked from implementing a reduction in force that would reduce the office to 10% of its former size but it has effectively eliminated civil rights enforcement at the agency.
| Source: | The Education Department's efforts to fire staff cost over $28 million, watchdog says National Public Radio, 2/02/26 |
| Agency: | Ed. |
| DOGE Project: | Anti-DEI, Elimination, Impunity |
3/08/26
Legal:
Judge Royce Lambeth rules that USAGM administrator Kari Lake had violated both the Constitution and the statutes governing the agency. He declared all of Lake’s actions as null and void after she took over leadership of the agency.
Legal:
Judge Royce Lambeth rules that USAGM administrator Kari Lake had violated both the Constitution and the statutes governing the agency. He declared all of Lake’s actions as null and void after she took over leadership of the agency.
| Source: | U.S. Judge says Kari Lake broke law in overseeing Voice of America National Public Radio, 3/08/26 |
| Agency: | USAGM |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
3/17/26
Legal:
A federal judge rules that USAGM must reinstate by Monday all of the 1,042 employees who had been put on indefinite administrative leave as a prelude to eliminating the agency, declaring Kari Lake’s actions to destroy the agency as “arbitrary and capricious.”
Legal:
A federal judge rules that USAGM must reinstate by Monday all of the 1,042 employees who had been put on indefinite administrative leave as a prelude to eliminating the agency, declaring Kari Lake’s actions to destroy the agency as “arbitrary and capricious.”
| Source: | Judge orders 1,000 Voice of America staffers back to work in rebuke to Kari Lake National Public Radio, 3/17/26 |
| Agency: | USAGM |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination |
Disruption:
As the Trump administration has struggled to find options to reopen the Strait of Hormuz after it started hostilities against Iran, theree are reports that the State Department had eliminated all staff from the Bureau of Energy Resources who would have been able to predict the problems. Key staffers who maintained communications and diplomatic relationships with oil companies in the region were also let go. Furthermore, departments that would have researched and debated the effects of the Iran invasion in the Department of Energy, Treasury and State have been eliminated or were sidelined from the decision to go to war.
Disruption:
As the Trump administration has struggled to find options to reopen the Strait of Hormuz after it started hostilities against Iran, theree are reports that the State Department had eliminated all staff from the Bureau of Energy Resources who would have been able to predict the problems. Key staffers who maintained communications and diplomatic relationships with oil companies in the region were also let go. Furthermore, departments that would have researched and debated the effects of the Iran invasion in the Department of Energy, Treasury and State have been eliminated or were sidelined from the decision to go to war.
| Source: | Trump’s DOGE Cuts Slashed Staff That Handled Middle Eastern Oil and Gas Crises NOTUS, 3/17/26 |
| Agency: | State, Treas., DOE |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination, Anti-Personnel |
Official Action:
Continuing on a Trump Administration plan to consolidate and centralize HR for all federal agencies within OPM, Scott Kupor announces a new “Federal HR 2.0” pilot program with several agencies. Under the new shared services model, OPM will take over roles like performance management, onboarding, payroll, workforce planning, recruitment and hiring from agency staff. This is presented as a move for greater efficiency, but it would also give OPM the centralized power to fire staff and eliminate departments that DOGE wanted. The pilot for this new program will start in Fiscal Year 2027 (October).
Official Action:
Continuing on a Trump Administration plan to consolidate and centralize HR for all federal agencies within OPM, Scott Kupor announces a new “Federal HR 2.0” pilot program with several agencies. Under the new shared services model, OPM will take over roles like performance management, onboarding, payroll, workforce planning, recruitment and hiring from agency staff. This is presented as a move for greater efficiency, but it would also give OPM the centralized power to fire staff and eliminate departments that DOGE wanted. The pilot for this new program will start in Fiscal Year 2027 (October).
| Person: | Scott Kupor |
| Source: | Modernizing HR Services by Establishing the OPM HR Shared Service Center Office of Personnel Management, 3/17/26 |
| Agency: | OPM, CFPB, HUD, VA, FHFA |
| DOGE Project: | Elimination, Anti-Personnel |