From Heaven to Hell in just 294 days: How the DOGE sector became a Meme coin in the political world

The government department named after the Dogecoin code, promising to cut bureaucracy with a chainsaw, disappeared silently after 294 days.

On January 20, 2025, the day Trump was sworn in, he signed an executive order establishing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The name immediately resonated in the crypto circle—directly borrowing from Dogecoin’s code. Musk played this move brilliantly, embedding a crypto meme into the political arena. The official website features a Shiba Inu logo, and in the DOGE team’s promotional posters, Musk is depicted holding a chainsaw with the caption “Ready for bureaucracy.” The entire communication strategy is like marketing a crypto asset, full of symbolism and satire.

The Collision of Politics and Meme Culture

The emergence of DOGE marked the rise of a new form of political communication. It was no longer traditional press releases but borrowed from internet meme culture, using language and visual styles familiar to net natives to break down bureaucratic stereotypes. This approach is no different from Musk’s tactics in promoting Dogecoin in the crypto world.

But DOGE’s real innovation lay in its operational method. Musk recruited about 50 young people in their twenties, dressed in hoodies and jeans, fueled by Red Bull, rushing between federal agencies. This team, dubbed the “Doll Army,” managed to place personnel in various federal departments within three weeks, controlling funding flows and screening contracts one by one.

AI technology became their secret weapon. From contract funding to employee travel reimbursements, all data was processed digitally. The AI tools quickly identified waste points, such as government office buildings left idle, which were immediately vacated, saving $150 million. This “rapid iteration and breaking norms” Silicon Valley spirit caused shockwaves in Washington’s conservative political ecosystem. DOGE required federal employees to submit weekly reports; those who didn’t would be treated as resigning; absentees were counted as on administrative leave. To traditional bureaucracies, this was like an invasion.

Grand Promises and Harsh Realities

Musk’s ambitions were huge. He claimed to cut $2 trillion from the federal budget, and DOGE’s co-director Ramashwamy went even further, saying they aimed to optimize away 70% of federal employees. These figures are typical hype in the crypto world—initially releasing astronomical numbers to attract attention.

But the harsh reality was far less impressive. DOGE claimed to have cut about $160 billion in spending, less than a fifth of the target. Even more painfully, a report from the Senate Permanent Investigations Subcommittee, a Democratic-led body, accused DOGE of “wasting” over $21 billion in federal funds within six months.

Opening the report reveals how absurd it was: the Department of Energy’s loan programs were frozen, costing the government $263 million in lost interest income; the US Agency for International Development (USAID) shut down, leading to $110 million worth of food and medicine rotting in warehouses. DOGE either did nothing or caused chain reactions, resulting in even greater losses.

Backlash and Litigation

DOGE’s methods angered many. Democratic attorneys general from 14 states jointly sued Musk and Trump, accusing Trump of violating constitutional appointment rules by granting powers to Musk. Nearly 20 lawsuits followed, alleging violations of the Privacy Act, unauthorized access to sensitive government data, and more. The political backlash far exceeded Musk and Trump’s expectations.

The Silent End

From a high-profile debut to a quiet exit, DOGE’s ending contrasted sharply with its beginning.

In May, Musk announced his departure, publicly disagreeing with Trump over the “Big and Beautiful Bill.” By summer, DOGE’s office began to evacuate personnel. Security posts and access badges disappeared.

In May of this year, Scott Cooper, director of the US Office of Personnel Management, publicly confirmed: “DOGE no longer exists.” Its functions had been taken over by the Office of Personnel Management. The once-thrilling government-wide hiring freeze was also lifted.

DOGE members were not expelled but found new positions within the government. Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia moved to the National Design Studio; Zachary Treel became the CTO of the Department of Health and Human Services. This shift symbolized the end of DOGE as an “experiment,” but some of its ideas were quietly integrated into the traditional government structure.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis commented on social media: “DOGE fought the Swamp, but the Swamp won.” This political meme coin experiment ultimately ended with the victory of the traditional power structure.

Lessons from the Symbolic Economy

DOGE’s story reveals an interesting phenomenon: the symbolic economy is infiltrating traditional politics. The fusion of crypto culture and politics is now irreversible, and we will see more political institutions and governance experiments with “crypto-native” features in the future.

But here’s a key lesson: no matter how creative the packaging, how attractive the Meme symbols, narratives that lack practical effectiveness are ultimately castles in the air. When DOGE’s hype fades, lawsuits pile up, and losses are laid bare, all symbolic power becomes pale.

The real takeaway for the traditional system from the crypto world is not how to tell better stories, but how to ensure technological implementation and value creation while maintaining innovation. Those that truly endure are always the technologies and projects that solve real problems.