The Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE and led by billionaires Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, has announced that it is seeking to hire only a “very small number” of full-time, salaried positions. This recruitment drive, publicized on the Musk-owned social media platform X, follows the group’s previous statement in November that they had received a substantial number of applications from eager job-seekers looking to contribute to the more mundane aspects of cost-cutting initiatives. Established in November by President-elect Donald Trump, DOGE is tasked with offering recommendations on how to significantly reduce federal spending, with a focus on slashing billions from the budget.
In their recent announcement, DOGE disclosed that Musk and Ramaswamy will personally review only the top 1% of applicants and are specifically seeking individuals with a “super high-IQ” who are willing to commit to working over 80 hours per week to strategize on eliminating expenses. Towards the end of December, DOGE put out a call for candidates with backgrounds in human resources, information technology, and finance. Most recently, the department has declared its intention to fill additional roles, though specifics about the positions or desired experience have not been elaborated upon.
Interested applicants are instructed to send a direct message to DOGE via X, including “a few bullet points demonstrating exceptional ability, and your cell phone number,” as stated in the post. Notably, the salary ranges for these open positions have not been disclosed by DOGE. Furthermore, it remains ambiguous whether employee salaries will be funded by taxpayers, Musk, or Ramaswamy.
The source of DOGE’s funding and support mechanism also remains uncertain, whether it will rely on taxpayer contributions or private backing. A comparable initiative, President Ronald Reagan’s Grace Commission, was funded through a private foundation established for that purpose. Despite queries from CBS MoneyWatch regarding the recruitment process and compensation for workers, DOGE has yet to provide a response.
The roles DOGE is actively seeking to fill include individuals identified as “super high-IQ small-government revolutionaries” dedicated to the unglamorous task of cost-cutting, full-time salaried software engineers, information security engineers, human resource professionals, information technology professionals, and finance professionals. DOGE has been vocal in its criticism of organizations like Planned Parenthood and other entities categorized as “progressive groups,” which reportedly receive approximately $300 million in federal funding annually, as well as international organizations receiving $1.5 billion in grants. Musk and Ramaswamy articulated these views in a Wall Street Journal commentary towards the close of last year, emphasizing that they are independent volunteers, not federal officials or employees, with a singular goal of reducing costs.
In a separate development, President Trump has expressed intentions to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America,” while there are signs of improving windy conditions near the Eaton Fire. Historic weather conditions have contributed to the recent wildfires in the Los Angeles area,
