Executive Order 14158
Establishing and Implementing the President’s Department of Government Efficiency
Signed on January 20, 2025
On January 20, 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order 14158, creating the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to oversee federal technology modernization. This order renames the U.S. Digital Service (USDS) as the “United States DOGE Service” and grants it sweeping authority to access federal IT systems, override previous regulations, and enforce an 18-month technology overhaul. The order centralizes digital modernization efforts under the White House and mandates the formation of DOGE Teams within federal agencies, giving them direct reporting lines to a White House-appointed USDS Administrator.
🔗 Read the Executive Order on the Federal Register
🔗 Read the White House Announcement
What You Should Know
DOGE centralizes federal IT control under the White House with minimal oversight.
This executive order eliminates the independent oversight structure previously in place under the U.S. Digital Service (USDS) and places all government-wide technology modernization efforts under the direct control of the White House. The newly established USDS Administrator, reporting solely to the White House Chief of Staff, gains expansive authority over federal agency IT infrastructure, weakening the independence of agency-specific digital strategies. This shift raises concerns about executive overreach and potential political manipulation of government data and technology systems.
Mandatory DOGE Teams in every federal agency will create bureaucratic confusion and inefficiencies.
The order requires every federal agency to create a DOGE Team, including an attorney, an engineer, and a human resources specialist, all reporting to a White House-controlled USDS Administrator. While framed as an effort to improve efficiency, this restructuring could lead to confusion, inefficiency, and potential conflicts with existing IT and legal teams. The requirement that these teams be assembled within 30 days suggests a rushed and poorly planned rollout that could disrupt existing government functions.
DOGE grants the White House broad access to federal agency IT systems, raising security and privacy concerns.
The order mandates that federal agencies provide DOGE full access to all unclassified records, software, and IT systems, effectively overriding previous executive orders and regulations that restricted centralized access to sensitive government systems. While the order claims this access will improve efficiency, it lacks clear safeguards to prevent data misuse or unauthorized monitoring. Given the history of government data breaches and cybersecurity failures, concentrating IT control in a single politically appointed office increases the risk of abuse, leaks, or system vulnerabilities.
The 18-month DOGE agenda could have permanent consequences.
Although the order states that the U.S. DOGE Service Temporary Organization will dissolve on July 4, 2026, it does not provide any plans for reversing or limiting the authority that DOGE establishes during its tenure. The broad IT modernization powers granted to the USDS Administrator could lead to lasting changes in government data access policies, agency autonomy, and the structure of federal digital operations, well beyond the supposed expiration date of this initiative.
Who Wins?
The Trump White House and political operatives seeking increased control over federal agencies.
By consolidating IT oversight under the White House, this order grants the executive branch unprecedented access to government technology systems. This could allow political appointees to influence data collection, digital operations, and even information flow across federal agencies, raising serious concerns about partisanship and executive overreach.
Private contractors and tech firms with government ties.
The executive order paves the way for major government IT contracts, particularly for companies aligned with the Trump administration. Past federal IT modernization efforts under Trump’s first term disproportionately benefited politically connected firms, and this order sets the stage for another wave of no-bid contracts and lucrative private-sector deals.
Who Loses
Federal agencies and employees who rely on stable, secure IT infrastructure.
Rushed implementation of broad technology overhauls can lead to system failures, compatibility issues, and operational disruptions. Agencies that already struggle with underfunded IT departments may be forced to comply with top-down directives that do not align with their specific operational needs, creating chaos rather than efficiency.
Government transparency and accountability.
With DOGE operating under direct White House control and exempt from many existing oversight mechanisms, there will be fewer checks on how government data is accessed, used, or shared. The lack of clear guidelines for data protection and transparency raises concerns about potential political interference in government IT operations.
Public trust in government cybersecurity and data privacy.
Granting DOGE sweeping access to federal IT systems without independent oversight increases the risk of data mishandling, breaches, or unauthorized surveillance. Without clear protections in place, this move could erode public confidence in the security of government data systems, particularly if politically motivated decisions affect how data is stored or accessed.
Executive Order 14158 claims to modernize federal IT systems for efficiency, but in reality, it centralizes control over government technology in the White House, weakens agency independence, and creates new risks for security and transparency. The rushed nature of its implementation, the lack of oversight, and the potential for political influence over government data systems make this a troubling shift in federal technology policy.
Take Action
Stay informed and monitor developments regarding DOGE’s implementation.
Follow updates from federal agencies and watchdog organizations tracking how this order is executed. Understanding how this policy unfolds is crucial for holding the administration accountable for any misuse of its broad IT oversight powers.
Advocate for independent oversight of federal IT modernization efforts.
Contact your representatives and demand safeguards to ensure that technology modernization efforts remain transparent, accountable, and free from political interference. Oversight from Congress and independent agencies can help prevent abuses of power under this executive order.
Push for cybersecurity protections and data privacy laws.
With DOGE gaining broad access to federal IT infrastructure, stronger laws are needed to ensure government data security and prevent unauthorized surveillance or data manipulation. Supporting policies that enhance cybersecurity and transparency can help counter the risks posed by centralized IT control.
Executive orders that claim to increase “efficiency” often serve as a cover for expanded executive power. Fact-check official claims, stay engaged, and don’t let sweeping policy changes go unchallenged.
