The media got it wrong. Again.
If you’ve been hearing about DOGE and assumed it had something to do with a new government agency (or cryptocurrency, for that matter), you’re not alone. But according to lawyer Tom Renz, that narrative is just another mainstream misinformation campaign. So, what’s really happening here? And why does it matter?
DOGE Isn’t New, It’s a Rebrand
The United States DOGE Service (DOGE) wasn’t built from scratch—it’s actually a rebrand of the United States Digital Service (USDS), an office originally created under Obamacare to improve government software. Trump simply took that existing agency and gave it a new mission.
"Trump did NOT actually create a new agency. Instead, what he did was repurpose an existing agency—the USDS—into something more useful," says Renz.
By doing this, Trump ensured that DOGE had funding from day one—no need to go through Congress, no messy budget fights. And because he wasn’t creating an entirely new department, the move was entirely legal.
The Legal Genius Behind It
Government restructuring usually comes with a legal minefield. But Trump’s team found a way around it.
Renz explains, "44 USCS Chapter 36 is the law that facilitates much of USDS. It is generally about developing tech for the government. This means that focusing on efficiency and evaluating the entire government through the lens of the IT that runs it is not really substantially altering the agency—just its focus."
Translation? He kept the foundation intact but changed the agency’s priorities to focus on government efficiency and accountability.
Enter Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy
Trump didn’t just tweak a bureaucratic structure—he brought in some heavy hitters to clean house. Musk and Ramaswamy were tapped for an initial audit and systems overhaul. But how do you do that without creating an entirely new entity? You use 5 USC 3161, a law that allows for the creation of temporary government organizations.
"This group will focus on pushing the DOGE agenda and will exist for 18 months (though their work will survive)," Renz clarifies. Temporary but impactful.
This strategy allowed Trump to bring in outsiders (like Musk) to expose inefficiencies without triggering lawsuits over executive overreach.
DOGE Teams in Every Government Agency
This isn’t just a White House initiative—it’s a government-wide push. The executive order requires that every federal agency form a DOGE team, made up of:
A team lead
A lawyer
An HR specialist
An engineer
These teams technically report to DOGE but will be embedded within their respective agencies. Their job? Find inefficiencies, eliminate waste, and modernize government operations.
As Renz puts it, "While all this is part of a ‘software modernization initiative,’ looking at the software and how things are managed is a great way to find out where there is waste—particularly when part of the mandate is to ensure efficiency."
Legal Armor Against Political Challenges
Naturally, something this disruptive is going to face resistance. But Trump’s order anticipates legal attacks and includes built-in protections.
"The last part of the post is all-important boilerplate. Trump orders all agencies to support the DOGE initiative, disclaims any other prior EOs that could interfere with this order, and makes a conflict of laws statement," Renz explains.
In short? This was set up to be lawsuit-proof.
A Lawyer’s Verdict: “Brilliantly Executed”
Renz isn’t exactly thrilled about how much power the executive branch has these days. But even he admits: this was a legal and strategic masterstroke.
"I don’t like that this has to be done and think the executive branch has far more authority than they should. That said, this order was very well done, and Trump and Musk have really done a good job strategically here."
What’s Next?
DOGE isn’t just a flashy name—it’s an attempt to modernize government operations and eliminate waste. Whether it works as intended depends on execution, but the legal structure and strategic setup make it clear: this isn’t just another government program destined for bureaucracy and inefficiency.
Trump played by the rules, used existing structures, and found a way to push his agenda without Congress stopping him. Now, we wait and see if DOGE delivers.
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