Trump creates Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) with sweeping federal access

President Trump signed an executive order creating the Department of Government Efficiency — a White House advisory body led by Elon Musk — and directed agencies to give DOGE personnel full access to agency data, payment systems, and personnel records. Courts blocked DOGE's access to Treasury payment systems and found some DOGE-directed mass firings unlawful. DOGE operated with minimal transparency while exercising broad influence over federal workforce, contracting, and regulatory decisions across the executive branch.