I saw the real DOGE from the inside. Why the media got DOGE and Elon all wrong
Former Interior Acting Assistant Secretary Sheds Light on DOGE Program, Urges Bipartisan Reform
By Maine News Now
In a recent book launch and a series of statements that have stirred debate, a former Acting Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Department of the Interior—who led the agency’s DOGE (Department of the Interior Governance & Execution) program—asserts that the initiative was unfairly portrayed as wasteful and chaotic. The book, titled Inside DOGE, went on sale last week and has already sparked discussion about how the program was run and why it has become a lightning rod for criticism.
A Program Designed to Cut Waste
The DOGE program was created in 2024 under the Trump administration’s effort to tighten federal spending. Led by the former Acting Assistant Secretary, the team undertook a sweeping review of thousands of contracts and grant agreements across the Interior Department. According to the former official, the group’s guiding question was simple: “Defend the spend and tell us what was mission‑critical.” When a contract could not be justified, the DOGE team cut it and held individuals accountable.
“I went through thousands of contracts and grants ourselves and asked the people who knew them best to help us,” the former assistant secretary said. “If a contract couldn’t be defended, or even explained, why were hardworking Americans paying for it? We cut what didn’t make sense and made individuals accountable.”
Criticisms and the Stigma Around DOGE
Since its launch, DOGE has been criticized for allegedly cutting jobs indiscriminately, disrespecting career civil servants, and creating a toxic environment. The former assistant secretary says those claims are largely unfounded.
“I have tremendous respect for the many hardworking, genuine, and intelligent people who serve in government,” he told the audience at the book launch. “Many are friends of mine today.”
The former official also addressed the narrative of “DOGE bros”—young engineers allegedly running the program recklessly. He said the engineers were some of the country’s brightest and that the program included nearly 20 women, three of whom worked directly under him. “They did not want to step into the spotlight amid all the media hostility,” he said. “They did it anyway and kept working relentlessly to reduce the deficit and help American families.”
A Surprising Mention of Elon Musk
In a surprising twist, the former assistant secretary referenced Elon Musk as a key figure in the DOGE program. He described Musk as “volatile” but praised his leadership style.
“I saw a man so locked in on the problem that he sometimes slept on the floor in a nearby office,” the former official said. “In our meetings, two things struck me that I’ll never forget: his ability to be completely present with a problem until it was solved, and a sense of urgency so strong that everyone in the room felt it. He was respectful, constructive, and sometimes even funny.”
While no official record confirms Musk’s involvement in a federal program, the former assistant secretary’s comments have added fuel to the debate over the program’s leadership and culture.
Working With Career Civil Servants
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