Steve Davis, Elon Musk’s trusted lieutenant, just walked away from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), leaving conservatives wondering if the cost-cutting dream is fading. The White House confirmed his exit Thursday, hot on the heels of Musk’s departure from the initiative. This double blow stings for those rooting for leaner government.
The Daily Caller reported that Davis’s exit, alongside Musk’s, sums up a turbulent week for DOGE, the Trump-backed effort to slash wasteful spending and tame bloated federal agencies. President Donald Trump tapped Musk to lead this charge, aiming to gut excess regulations and restructure government operations.
It all started when Musk announced his DOGE departure Wednesday via X, catching many by surprise.
Just a day later, the White House dropped the news of Davis’s exit, first reported by The Wall Street Journal. A White House official later confirmed it to the Daily Caller, cementing the sense of a sinking ship.
Davis wasn’t just a cog in the DOGE machine—he ran the show, overseeing daily operations like hiring and firing.
As a special government employee (SGE), he juggled his DOGE duties while staying CEO of the Boring Co. But SGEs can only work 130 days a year, and Davis was nearing that cap, forcing his hand.
The timing couldn’t be worse for DOGE’s supporters, who saw Davis as a linchpin for real reform. His exit leaves the effort in the hands of lesser-known federal officials, raising eyebrows about their ability to deliver. Can they carry the torch without Musk’s inner circle?
Adding to the drama, Katie Miller, DOGE’s senior advisor and spokesperson, also jumped ship. Three sources told CNN she’s now working for Musk, with one claiming it’s a full-time gig. She’s even arranging Musk’s non-government interviews—talk about loyalty to the boss.
Miller, like Davis, was an SGE, bound by the same 130-day limit that’s now thinning DOGE’s ranks. Her departure to Musk’s team feels like a defection to a flashier cause, leaving DOGE to scrape by. It’s hard not to see this as a sign of wavering commitment.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt tried to steady the narrative Thursday, insisting the mission isn’t dead. “The entire cabinet understands the need to cut government waste, fraud, and abuse,” she said. Sounds nice, but with top dogs gone, that’s a tough sell.
Leavitt doubled down, claiming, “Surely, the mission of DOGE will continue.” But her optimism feels like a Band-Aid on a broken leg when Musk’s handpicked crew is scattering. Actions speak louder than press briefings, and these exits scream trouble.
DOGE still has some heavy hitters, like Anthony Armstrong, a former Morgan Stanley banker who helped Musk buy Twitter, and Antonio Gracias, CEO of Valor Equity Partners. Both are Musk loyalists, but their profiles are lower than Davis’s or Miller’s. Can they rally the troops to keep DOGE’s promises?
The initiative’s goal was bold: slash regulations, cut spending, and reshape agencies to serve taxpayers better.
Trump’s vision, with Musk at the helm, had MAGA cheering for a government that works smarter. Now, with the brain trust dwindling, that dream feels like it’s on life support.
Just weeks ago, on March 9, 2025, Musk was striding to the White House with Trump, fresh off Marine One from Mar-a-Lago. That image of unity now feels like ancient history. The revolving door of departures suggests DOGE’s unity is fraying fast.
Conservatives hoped DOGE would be a wrecking ball to bureaucratic bloat, but these exits cast a long shadow. Lower-profile officials are left to pick up the pieces, and their track record is anyone’s guess. Without Musk’s star power, will the cabinet stay focused?
