Summary

The Journal: Inside DOGE's Campaign of Secrecy

Episode Release Date: February 28, 2025

Introduction

In this compelling episode of The Journal, hosted by Kate Linebaugh and Ryan Knutson of The Wall Street Journal & Gimlet, listeners are taken behind the scenes of DOGE's aggressive campaign to overhaul the federal government. DOGE, short for the Department of Government Efficiency, is portrayed as a secretive and highly ambitious entity driven by Elon Musk's vision to reduce national deficits by slashing government spending and modernizing outdated systems.

The Emergence of DOGE

Elon Musk's Revelation at the Cabinet Meeting

The episode opens with a vivid depiction of President Trump's first Cabinet meeting, where Elon Musk makes a prominent appearance. Wearing a black MAGA hat and a "Tech Support" T-shirt, Musk introduces DOGE to the Cabinet.

[00:05] Kate Linebaugh: “At President Trump's first Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, there was a familiar face standing up front wearing a black MAGA hat and a T-shirt that read Tech Support.”
[00:31] Kate Linebaugh: “Elon Musk was there to tell the Cabinet about the work that DOGE, or the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, has been doing. He said they're helping to fix out-of-date computer systems as part of his goal to reduce the national deficit.”
[00:48] Elon Musk: “If we don't do this, America will go bankrupt. That's why it has to be done.”

Elon Musk’s assertion underscores DOGE's mission to modernize government infrastructure, framing it as a critical step to avert financial collapse.

DOGE's Operational Tactics

Infiltration and Control of Government Systems

Scott Patterson, a reporter for The Journal, delves into DOGE's swift and secretive operations within government agencies:

[03:24] Scott Patterson: “My reporting shows that at 12:01pm on January 20th, the day that Trump was inaugurated, there were some people from DOGE arriving at this obscure agency called the Office of Personnel Management.”

DOGE's team, primarily composed of young computer programmers with backgrounds in Musk's companies like SpaceX, Tesla, and Neuralink, strategically targets the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) as their initial foray.

[05:08] Scott Patterson: “You know, if your goal was to reduce the size of the federal workforce, there'd be no better place, because that is the human resources army of the federal workforce.”

Once inside, DOGE rapidly gains access to sensitive government data:

[04:36] Scott Patterson: “They were at OPM demanding access to computer systems. They meet some resistance by people who don't know or believe that they have this authorization, but they very quickly get it. And within about a half an hour, they are in the OPM systems and pretty quickly able to access a large amount of information that's in those systems.”

Mass Email Campaigns as a Tool for Downsizing

DOGE employs mass email systems to influence federal employees:

[05:24] Scott Patterson: “Their first project was putting together this mass email system. … They asked, do you have a system where you can email the entire federal workforce?”
[05:51] Kate Linebaugh: “A few days later, DOGE put that very powerful tool to work. It sent out a test email intended to hit every single employee in the federal government. Days later, another email went out, this time with a choice. Quit your job and get eight months of paid leave, or keep your job, but risk being fired.”

These emails serve as psychological pressure points, compelling employees to either voluntarily reduce the workforce or face termination.

Impact on Federal Agencies

Widespread Workforce Reductions

DOGE's actions have led to significant personnel cuts across multiple federal agencies:

[01:00] Kate Linebaugh: “Doge is moving fast to cut spending and slash the federal government, shutting down USAID, the CFPB at about 5% of the national Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are being let go. Already more than 200 have been fired from FEMA, around 400 from the Federal Aviation Administration, and more than 1,000 from the Department of Veterans Affairs.”

Seizure of Sensitive Data

Beyond workforce reductions, DOGE has accessed highly sensitive information:

[08:26] Kate Linebaugh: “They've also effectively shut down some agencies like USAID, and they now have access to highly sensitive data.”

This data includes personal information such as Social Security numbers and healthcare details, raising significant privacy and security concerns.

Internal and External Reactions

Pushback Within the Cabinet

DOGE's aggressive measures have not gone without resistance. Senior officials from various departments, including the FBI, have expressed discomfort with DOGE's tactics:

[09:56] Scott Patterson: “…leaders of departments, including the FBI, who told employees not to respond to that [mass email]. … FBI agents or CIA agents or, you know, other people in secrecy agencies saying what they did last week. So that has caused some of the biggest pushback that we've seen so far.”

Elon Musk's Defense and White House Support

In response to criticism, Elon Musk defends DOGE's methods as necessary performance assessments:

[11:55] Elon Musk: “I think that email perhaps was best interpreted as a performance review, but actually it was a pulse check review. Do you have a pulse? Do you have a pulse and two neurons? So if you have a pulse and two neurons, you can reply to an email.”

President Trump staunchly backs DOGE, ensuring continued support despite growing concerns:

[13:28] Scott Patterson: “Trump backed Musk's actions, and the White House press secretary said that everyone is working together as one unified team. Any notion to the contrary is false.”

Questioning DOGE's Financial Claims

While DOGE claims substantial savings for the government, investigative reporting by The Wall Street Journal reveals discrepancies:

[14:26] Scott Patterson: “The Wall Street Journal and other news organizations have shown that a lot of the claims of things and savings that they've accomplished are illusions. …”

DOGE's projected savings figures are significantly inflated, with actual savings far below the announced numbers.

Legal Challenges and Future Prospects

Judicial Intervention

The episode highlights a pivotal legal decision where a federal judge orders OPM to reverse mass firings deemed illegal:

[17:06] Kate Linebaugh: “Yesterday, a federal judge ordered OPM to reverse the mass firings of probationary workers across agencies, saying that the terminations were probably illegal.”

Uncertain Future for DOGE

Scott Patterson reflects on the unpredictable trajectory of DOGE:

[16:23] Scott Patterson: “Nobody that I know of had any idea that Musk was going to do this on such a scale. … It will be interesting to see what happens next. And I will be front seat eating popcorn.”

With DOGE operating beyond traditional corporate structures and interfacing directly with the federal government, its future remains uncertain amidst mounting opposition and legal challenges.

Conclusion

The Journal provides an in-depth exploration of DOGE's controversial efforts to restructure the federal government. Through meticulous reporting and firsthand accounts, the episode exposes the secretive and aggressive tactics employed by DOGE, the internal resistance within the government, and the dubious validity of its financial claims. As DOGE continues to navigate legal hurdles and public scrutiny, the long-term implications of its campaign on government efficiency and employee welfare remain to be seen.

Notable Quotes:

Elon Musk [00:48]: “If we don't do this, America will go bankrupt. That's why it has to be done.”
Scott Patterson [05:08]: “You know, if your goal was to reduce the size of the federal workforce, there'd be no better place, because that is the human resources army of the federal workforce.”
Elon Musk [11:55]: “I think that email perhaps was best interpreted as a performance review, but actually it was a pulse check review. Do you have a pulse? Do you have a pulse and two neurons? So if you have a pulse and two neurons, you can reply to an email.”
Scott Patterson [14:26]: “The Wall Street Journal and other news organizations have shown that a lot of the claims of things and savings that they've accomplished are illusions.”

Credits:

Additional reporting in this episode by James Benedict, Josh Dawsey, Caitlin Ostroff, Brian Schwartz, and Shane Shiflett. Produced by Kathryn Brewer, Pia Gadkari, Rachel Humphries, Sophie Codner, Ryan Knudson, Matt Kwong, Colin McNulty, Jessica Mendoza, Annie Minoff, Laura Morris, Enrique Perez de la Rosa, Sarah Platt, Alessandra Rizzo, Alan Rodriguez Espinosa, Heather Rogers, Pierce Singhi, Jeevika Verma, Lisa Wang, Catherine Whelan, Tatiana Zemis, and Kate Linebaugh, with help from Trina Menino.

For more insights on money, business, and power, subscribe to The Journal on Spotify and follow The Wall Street Journal.

Summary

The Journal: Inside DOGE's Campaign of Secrecy

Episode Release Date: February 28, 2025

Introduction

The Emergence of DOGE

Elon Musk's Revelation at the Cabinet Meeting

[00:05] Kate Linebaugh: “At President Trump's first Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, there was a familiar face standing up front wearing a black MAGA hat and a T-shirt that read Tech Support.”
[00:31] Kate Linebaugh: “Elon Musk was there to tell the Cabinet about the work that DOGE, or the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, has been doing. He said they're helping to fix out-of-date computer systems as part of his goal to reduce the national deficit.”
[00:48] Elon Musk: “If we don't do this, America will go bankrupt. That's why it has to be done.”

Elon Musk’s assertion underscores DOGE's mission to modernize government infrastructure, framing it as a critical step to avert financial collapse.

DOGE's Operational Tactics

Infiltration and Control of Government Systems

Scott Patterson, a reporter for The Journal, delves into DOGE's swift and secretive operations within government agencies:

[03:24] Scott Patterson: “My reporting shows that at 12:01pm on January 20th, the day that Trump was inaugurated, there were some people from DOGE arriving at this obscure agency called the Office of Personnel Management.”

[05:08] Scott Patterson: “You know, if your goal was to reduce the size of the federal workforce, there'd be no better place, because that is the human resources army of the federal workforce.”

Once inside, DOGE rapidly gains access to sensitive government data:

[04:36] Scott Patterson: “They were at OPM demanding access to computer systems. They meet some resistance by people who don't know or believe that they have this authorization, but they very quickly get it. And within about a half an hour, they are in the OPM systems and pretty quickly able to access a large amount of information that's in those systems.”

Mass Email Campaigns as a Tool for Downsizing

DOGE employs mass email systems to influence federal employees:

[05:24] Scott Patterson: “Their first project was putting together this mass email system. … They asked, do you have a system where you can email the entire federal workforce?”
[05:51] Kate Linebaugh: “A few days later, DOGE put that very powerful tool to work. It sent out a test email intended to hit every single employee in the federal government. Days later, another email went out, this time with a choice. Quit your job and get eight months of paid leave, or keep your job, but risk being fired.”

These emails serve as psychological pressure points, compelling employees to either voluntarily reduce the workforce or face termination.

Impact on Federal Agencies

Widespread Workforce Reductions

DOGE's actions have led to significant personnel cuts across multiple federal agencies:

[01:00] Kate Linebaugh: “Doge is moving fast to cut spending and slash the federal government, shutting down USAID, the CFPB at about 5% of the national Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are being let go. Already more than 200 have been fired from FEMA, around 400 from the Federal Aviation Administration, and more than 1,000 from the Department of Veterans Affairs.”

Seizure of Sensitive Data

Beyond workforce reductions, DOGE has accessed highly sensitive information:

[08:26] Kate Linebaugh: “They've also effectively shut down some agencies like USAID, and they now have access to highly sensitive data.”

This data includes personal information such as Social Security numbers and healthcare details, raising significant privacy and security concerns.

Internal and External Reactions

Pushback Within the Cabinet

DOGE's aggressive measures have not gone without resistance. Senior officials from various departments, including the FBI, have expressed discomfort with DOGE's tactics:

[09:56] Scott Patterson: “…leaders of departments, including the FBI, who told employees not to respond to that [mass email]. … FBI agents or CIA agents or, you know, other people in secrecy agencies saying what they did last week. So that has caused some of the biggest pushback that we've seen so far.”

Elon Musk's Defense and White House Support

In response to criticism, Elon Musk defends DOGE's methods as necessary performance assessments:

[11:55] Elon Musk: “I think that email perhaps was best interpreted as a performance review, but actually it was a pulse check review. Do you have a pulse? Do you have a pulse and two neurons? So if you have a pulse and two neurons, you can reply to an email.”

President Trump staunchly backs DOGE, ensuring continued support despite growing concerns:

[13:28] Scott Patterson: “Trump backed Musk's actions, and the White House press secretary said that everyone is working together as one unified team. Any notion to the contrary is false.”

Questioning DOGE's Financial Claims

While DOGE claims substantial savings for the government, investigative reporting by The Wall Street Journal reveals discrepancies:

[14:26] Scott Patterson: “The Wall Street Journal and other news organizations have shown that a lot of the claims of things and savings that they've accomplished are illusions. …”

DOGE's projected savings figures are significantly inflated, with actual savings far below the announced numbers.

Legal Challenges and Future Prospects

Judicial Intervention

The episode highlights a pivotal legal decision where a federal judge orders OPM to reverse mass firings deemed illegal:

[17:06] Kate Linebaugh: “Yesterday, a federal judge ordered OPM to reverse the mass firings of probationary workers across agencies, saying that the terminations were probably illegal.”

Uncertain Future for DOGE

Scott Patterson reflects on the unpredictable trajectory of DOGE:

[16:23] Scott Patterson: “Nobody that I know of had any idea that Musk was going to do this on such a scale. … It will be interesting to see what happens next. And I will be front seat eating popcorn.”

With DOGE operating beyond traditional corporate structures and interfacing directly with the federal government, its future remains uncertain amidst mounting opposition and legal challenges.

Conclusion

Notable Quotes:

Elon Musk [00:48]: “If we don't do this, America will go bankrupt. That's why it has to be done.”
Scott Patterson [05:08]: “You know, if your goal was to reduce the size of the federal workforce, there'd be no better place, because that is the human resources army of the federal workforce.”
Elon Musk [11:55]: “I think that email perhaps was best interpreted as a performance review, but actually it was a pulse check review. Do you have a pulse? Do you have a pulse and two neurons? So if you have a pulse and two neurons, you can reply to an email.”
Scott Patterson [14:26]: “The Wall Street Journal and other news organizations have shown that a lot of the claims of things and savings that they've accomplished are illusions.”

Credits:

For more insights on money, business, and power, subscribe to The Journal on Spotify and follow The Wall Street Journal.

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Inside DOGE's Campaign of Secrecy

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Summary

Introduction

The Emergence of DOGE

DOGE's Operational Tactics

Impact on Federal Agencies

Internal and External Reactions

Legal Challenges and Future Prospects

Conclusion

Summary

Introduction

The Emergence of DOGE

DOGE's Operational Tactics

Impact on Federal Agencies

Internal and External Reactions

Legal Challenges and Future Prospects

Conclusion