Elon Musk’s Shadow Government Experiment DOGE Unravels Amid Leadership Exodus

As Elon Musk signals a retreat from his controversial federal government initiative, the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), insiders are shedding light on a chaotic and loosely structured operation. In a candid blog post, Gumroad CEO Sahil Lavingia detailed his 55-day tenure with DOGE at the Department of Veterans Affairs, calling the initiative “disorganized” and noting the lack of communication between teams. According to Lavingia, directives often came via encrypted messages from Steve Davis—Musk’s longtime lieutenant and former Boring Company CEO—who served as the de facto coordinator of DOGE efforts across agencies.

Lavingia described DOGE as being driven by a small inner circle: Davis, venture capitalist Baris Akis, and tech investor Anthony Armstrong. This trio appeared to wield outsized influence, directing priorities and placements without formal authority. Davis, in particular, acted as a central node—assigning projects, overseeing contract reviews, and managing communications through Signal, a practice that raises legal concerns about transparency in government recordkeeping. Lavingia recounted a meeting dubbed an “E meeting,” where Davis and his team executed Musk’s orders with minimal oversight or formal structure.

With Davis and fellow operative Nicole Hollander reportedly departing alongside Musk, DOGE’s future remains uncertain. The initiative, originally housed at SpaceX’s Washington offices, has operated on the margins of legality and bureaucracy, populated by special government employees and young engineers loyal to Musk. Lavingia suggests that, absent Musk’s gravitational pull, the remaining team will likely disband. “I have no idea what direction DOGE will take,” he admitted, hinting that what began as a disruptive force in government may soon dissolve without its central figures.