Published in Tech Policy Press, this piece explains how budget loopholes and cybersecurity authorities enabled the rise of DOGE’s parent agency, the U.S. Digital Service. It outlines how Congress could defund DOGE to reclaim oversight.
In February 2025, I published an article in Tech Policy Press titled How Congress Can Delete DOGE, drawing on my experience at the White House Office of Management and Budget to explain how budget loopholes and exploited cybersecurity authorities gave rise to DOGE’s parent agency, the U.S. Digital Service (USDS), and set the stage for DOGE’s current abuses of power.
The piece outlines how Congress could use its power of the purse to eliminate this funding stream and reclaim oversight of federal agency administration. I also warn that, in the event of a government shutdown, DOGE would likely continue to operate—thanks to its unique budget status—while most federal employees are furloughed.
Listen to the companion podcast, “DOGE and the United States of AI”, where I join fellow experts to unpack how DOGE is reshaping government infrastructure, surveillance, and public policy under the guise of efficiency.