Elon Musk is assembling a team of technology experts, including artificial intelligence specialists, to staff the newly announced Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). President-elect Donald Trump announced last month that Musk would co-lead this advisory commission alongside Vivek Ramaswamy, with a mandate to eliminate excess regulations and reduce wasteful government spending by July 4, 2026.
Bloomberg reported that DOGE has hired approximately 10 people and is actively recruiting software engineers with AI expertise. The Boring Company CEO Steve Davis and former US Chief Technology Officer Michael Kratsios are conducting interviews for potential hires. The commission is currently operating from a SpaceX-leased office near the White House, though many operational details remain unclear, including whether positions are full-time, compensation structures, and exact work locations.
Musk indicated in a November X post that DOGE employees would engage in “tedious work” for zero compensation, describing it as work that would “make lots of enemies.” This unconventional staffing approach reflects the commission’s experimental nature.
Key personnel include a mix of Musk loyalists and Trump administration veterans. Davis, who holds a doctorate in economics from George Mason University, began as a SpaceX engineer before Musk selected him to lead The Boring Company. He also participated in Musk’s Twitter acquisition and played a significant role in the pro-Trump America PAC. Kratsios brings White House experience as Trump’s top technology advisor during his first term and previously served as Peter Thiel’s chief of staff. He currently works as a managing director at Scale AI, a data labeling startup crucial to AI development.
Trump announced the commission’s first official hire: William Joseph McGinley, a Republican lawyer and former Jones Day partner who served as Trump’s White House cabinet secretary from 2017 to 2019, will serve as DOGE’s counsel.
Silicon Valley influence appears central to DOGE’s formation. Musk has reportedly consulted prominent tech leaders including venture capitalist Marc Andreessen and Uber cofounder Travis Kalanick about the commission’s direction. In November, DOGE launched an X account soliciting CVs via direct message, stating: “We don’t need more part-time idea generators. We need super high-IQ small-government revolutionaries willing to work 80+ hours per week on unglamorous cost-cutting.”
Key Quotes
Indeed, this will be tedious work, make lots of enemies & compensation is zero. What a great deal!
Elon Musk posted this on X in November, setting expectations for DOGE employees. The statement reveals the unconventional nature of the commission, where highly skilled professionals, including AI engineers, are expected to work without pay on politically sensitive cost-cutting initiatives.
We don’t need more part-time idea generators. We need super high-IQ small-government revolutionaries willing to work 80+ hours per week on unglamorous cost-cutting.
This statement from DOGE’s official X account outlines the commission’s demanding recruitment criteria. It emphasizes the intensity of the work expected from AI engineers and other technical staff, reflecting Silicon Valley’s high-performance culture applied to government efficiency.
Our Take
The recruitment of AI engineers for DOGE represents a significant moment in the convergence of artificial intelligence and government operations. By tapping Scale AI’s Kratsios and actively seeking AI expertise, Musk signals that machine learning and data analytics will be central tools for identifying waste and inefficiency. This approach could fundamentally reshape how government evaluates its own operations, moving from traditional auditing methods to AI-powered analysis. However, the zero-compensation model and demanding work expectations raise questions about sustainability and who can afford to participate—potentially limiting diversity of perspective. The involvement of Silicon Valley elites like Andreessen and connections to AI companies suggests this commission may also serve as a bridge for increased private sector AI adoption in federal systems, with implications extending far beyond the 2026 deadline.
Why This Matters
This development signals AI’s expanding role in government operations and policy implementation. By specifically recruiting AI engineers and software developers, Musk’s DOGE commission demonstrates how artificial intelligence is becoming integral to governmental efficiency initiatives. The involvement of Scale AI’s managing director Kratsios further underscores the connection between AI infrastructure and public sector transformation.
The commission represents a unique intersection of Silicon Valley innovation culture and federal government operations. Musk’s approach—demanding 80+ hour work weeks for zero compensation while promising “tedious work”—mirrors startup culture but applied to bureaucratic reform. This could establish precedents for how AI expertise is leveraged in government cost-cutting and regulatory streamlining.
The recruitment of AI specialists suggests DOGE may employ machine learning and data analytics to identify inefficiencies, automate processes, or analyze government spending patterns. This could accelerate the adoption of AI tools across federal agencies and influence how future administrations approach technological modernization. The commission’s 18-month timeline and ambitious mandate may also test whether AI-driven approaches can deliver rapid governmental transformation.
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Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/what-we-know-so-far-who-working-on-doge-musk-2024-12