Inside Elon Musk’s DOGE Universe: The People Shaping His Government Influence

 A vast network of Silicon Valley elites, former Tesla and SpaceX executives, and a new wave of hackers and engineers have coalesced under Elon Musk’s sphere of influence. This intricate web, known as DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency), now finds itself at the intersection of technology and U.S. federal operations.DOGE, formed under a directive from the Trump administration, comprises individuals who either work directly under Musk or advise on government-related initiatives. Their presence within the federal system illustrates not just Musk’s ability to attract top talent but also his increasing influence in shaping policy and technology-driven government reforms.Mapping Musk’s Influence TechCrunch set out to identify the key figures operating within DOGE and how they connect to Musk’s ever-expanding empire. Our investigation relied on interviews with former Musk colleagues, current DOGE staff, and publicly available data, including archived websites, chat logs, financial records, and past media reports.During this process, we uncovered new details about DOGE’s operations, including an xAI-powered chatbot linked to a DOGE-affiliated subdomain, hosted on a website controlled by one of Musk’s long-time allies.

Official Response from the White House When contacted for comment, a White House spokesperson provided the following statement:“DOGE is fulfilling President Trump’s commitment to making government more accountable, efficient, and, most importantly, restoring proper stewardship of the American taxpayer’s hard-earned dollars. Those leading this mission with Elon Musk are doing so in full compliance with federal law, appropriate security clearances, and as employees of the relevant agencies, not as outside advisors or entities. The ongoing operations of DOGE may be seen as disruptive by those entrenched in the federal bureaucracy, who resist change. While change can be uncomfortable, it is necessary and aligns with the mandate supported by more than 77 million American voters

”What’s Next for DOGE? As Musk’s influence grows, so too does the DOGE network. The team is expected to expand further in the coming weeks, recruiting more individuals to advance its mission. Below, we break down the key players into four categories:

• Musk’s Inner Circle – Trusted executives and long-time allies.
• Senior Figures – High-ranking officials within DOGE.
• Worker Bees – Engineers and analysts driving daily operations.
• Aides & Advisors – Recruiters and strategists supporting DOGE’s expansion.

This is a developing story, and we will continue tracking updates as DOGE evolves. Stay tuned for more insights into Musk’s ever-expanding reach into government operations.