From DOGE meme to political experiment: The 294-day chronicle of life and death in the DOGE sector

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) established by Trump on his first day in office has quietly disappeared. In mid-May this year, Scott Cooper, the director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, confirmed for the first time: “It no longer exists.”

From establishment to dissolution, it took only 294 days. This number is somewhat ironic - it coincides roughly with the fleeting cycles of meme coins in the crypto market.

The Birth of Meme Politics

On January 20, 2025, the day Trump was sworn in, he signed an executive order. The department's name DOGE directly borrows from the code of Dogecoin, and the official website is filled with Shiba Inu images. Elon Musk, as a staunch supporter of Dogecoin, cleverly brought the cultural symbols of the crypto world into Washington.

This is not a design from a traditional government agency. The promotional photo of Musk holding a chainsaw paired with the tagline “a chainsaw for bureaucracy” is a vivid example of the radical marketing tactics in the crypto space. This approach breaks the stereotype of government departments and is filled with a sense of humor that only internet natives can understand. To put it simply, DOGE has never followed the traditional government playbook from the very beginning.

Silicon Valley-style barbaric growth

The way it operates has completely deviated from Washington's old rules. Musk has recruited more than 50 young people in their 20s, whom outsiders call “baby soldiers.” These individuals wear hoodies and jeans, rely on Red Bull to stay energized, and have managed to place personnel in various federal agencies within just three weeks.

AI has become the core tool of DOGE. From government contract allocations to employee travel reimbursements, all data is processed digitally. AI quickly identifies areas of resource waste—such as discovering unused office buildings and immediately terminating leases, saving $150 million in one go.

The “fast action and rule-breaking” spirit of Silicon Valley has sparked a response in Washington. DOGE requires federal employees to submit weekly reports, and those who fail to do so will be automatically terminated. Many people are left with no choice.

The Huge Gap Between Narrative and Reality

The initial goals were boisterously proclaimed. Musk claimed he would cut $2 trillion from the federal budget. Ramaswamy went even further, saying he would optimize away 70% of federal government employees. These figures sound strikingly similar to the exaggerated promotional techniques used in the crypto space—creating topics and attracting attention.

But reality slapped back immediately. Although DOGE claims to have cut expenditures by about $16 billion, this is less than one-fifth of Musk's promised target. Talking and doing are completely two different things.

What’s even more heartbreaking is the data that was released later. Democratic members of the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations reported that DOGE “wasted” more than $21 billion in funds within six months. The Energy Department's loan program was frozen, causing the government to lose $263 million in interest income; the U.S. Agency for International Development was shut down, and approximately $110 million worth of food and medicine rotted in warehouses.

This method of operation has angered many people. Democratic attorneys general from 14 states are suing Musk and Trump, accusing Trump of giving Musk powers that violate constitutional provisions. DOGE is facing nearly 20 lawsuits, including violations of privacy laws and unauthorized access to sensitive government data.

The Silent Conclusion of the White House Meme

In May, Musk announced his resignation from DOGE. He and Trump publicly fell out over the 'Big and Beautiful' bill. By summer, the staff of DOGE had gradually left the headquarters, and the security posts and authorization signs had disappeared.

As of now, the Director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management has publicly confirmed that DOGE no longer exists, and its functions have been taken over by the Office of Personnel Management. Those former DOGE members have now changed their identities within the government: Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia is now working on the National Design Studio, and Zachary Terrell has become the Chief Technology Officer of the Department of Health.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis commented on social media: “DOGE fought against the swamp, but the swamp won.” This political meme coin experiment has thus come to an end.

Insights from the Era of Symbolic Economy

Ultimately, DOGE showcases an interesting phenomenon: the symbol economy is infiltrating the traditional political sphere. The collision of crypto culture and political systems has brought about unprecedented experiments.

Although the DOGE department ended in failure, it proved one thing - the integration of politics and crypto culture is irreversible. In the future, there may be more political attempts with “crypto-native” characteristics.

The question is, how to truly solve practical problems while retaining the appeal of symbols? How can the innovative spirit of the crypto world be combined with the stability of traditional governance? This is a question that needs to be considered.

In simple terms, no matter how powerful the narrative is, it is merely a tool for building consensus. Without the grounding in technology and value creation, narratives will ultimately become castles in the air. When the hype around meme symbols fades, what truly remains are only those things that genuinely solve problems. The story of DOGE may well be the best illustration of this principle.