Sahil Lavingia, the CEO of Gumroad, recently shared insights from his 55-day experience at DOGE in a blog post. He described the organization as disorganized, with minimal information sharing across teams. This revelation comes as Elon Musk announced plans to step back from his role at DOGE, handing over responsibilities to Steve Davis and Nicole Hollander.
Leadership Transition
- Musk’s closest lieutenants have been instrumental in shaping DOGE’s direction over the years.
- Their departure raises questions about future leadership and the organization’s strategic direction.
Governance Concerns
The lack of clear leadership within DOGE is concerning for those who rely on it for governance services. Key issues include:
- Uncertainty regarding decision-making processes.
- Ambiguity in addressing organizational issues.
Internal Operations
Lavingia highlighted several operational concerns within DOGE:
- Employees are not required to maintain records of their communications via the encrypted messaging app Signal, which could violate laws mandating record-keeping for government employees.
- Some high-ranking officials within DOGE are not U.S. citizens, raising further questions about governance and compliance.
Notable Figures
- Baris Akis, co-founder of Human Capital alongside Lavingia, did not respond to inquiries from WIRED regarding these issues.
- Anthony Armstrong, who advised Musk on Twitter acquisition efforts, focused on OPM, one of the first departments taken over by DOGE after its inception.
In summary, the transition in leadership and the internal operations of DOGE present significant challenges that need to be addressed to ensure effective governance and compliance.

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