Tarak Makecha
Tech Industry Links: Tesla, Valor
Exited govt: 7/XX/25 (resigned)
Tarak Makecha is the former head of stategic planning for Tesla Energy. Although he describes himself as a software engineer, he comes from a backgroun in finance. In that capacity, he has been reviewing and cancelling grants for the DOJ and FBI, but recent sources have also linked him to the US Agency for Global Media and grant cancellations there. His LinkedIn reports that he left working for DOGE in July and is now a vice president at Valor Equity Partners, the investment firm run by Antonio Gracias and the employer of Jon Koval and Payton Rehling. I’m sure that’s just a coincidence.
Positions
| Position | Notes |
|---|---|
| State |
Source
|
| OPM |
Sources
|
| USAGM |
Source
|
| FCC |
Source
|
| FBI |
Source
|
Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 3/12/25 DOGE, FCC |
Source
Interagency:
Steve Davis sends an email to the FCC general counsel Adam Candeub introducing him to Tarak Makecha (whom he identifies as the Biz Lead) and Jordan Wick (software engineer). He follows up with Tarak and suggests chatting with him on his personal phone number (instead of an official government phone number).
|
| 3/13/25 DOGE, FCC |
Source
Interagency:
Tarak Makecha, Joshua Fox, and Jacob Altik communicate with FCC staff about detailing arrangements from the OPM to the FCC (presumably for Tarak and Jacob)
|
| 4/03/25 DOJ |
Source
Disruption:
Tarak Makecha escalates his demands at 6:25pm that the Acacia contracts must be terminated immediately despite it being after business hours and there not being an actual emergency.
|
| 4/03/25 DOJ |
Source
Disruption:
Tarak Makecha finds a DOJ Contracting Officer after hours at 7:25pm to send the termination despite agency concerns that it violates the terms of a court order to not provide 3 days notice for termination.
|
| 4/03/25 DOJ, GSA |
Source
Interagency:
Tarak Makecha, a DOGE representative at DOJ is forwarded a list at 6pm of DOJ contracts to terminate for the Acacia Center, a nonprofit in DOGE’s crosshairs that day and a plaintiff in a lawsuit against the DOJ. He coordinates with Josh Gruenbaum at the GSA, who is leading a multi-agency effort to eliminate grants.
|
| 4/04/25 FCC |
Source
Sighting:
Tarak Makecha, Jordan Wick and Jacob Altik are listed in the public directory of FCC staff and listed as associated with the Office of the Chairman at the FCC.
|
| 4/08/25 DOGE, FCC |
Source
Interagency:
Jacob Altik and Ashley Boizelle meet in the FCC headquarters with the Chief of Staff Greg Watson to discuss the FCC’s progress on removing regulations.
|
Open Questions
- Why does a FOIA of start dates and positions list Tarak starting at State in January 2025?