DOGE: Information on Personnel and Ethics Activities

What GAO Found GAO identified 206 Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) personnel who held positions in the Executive Office of the President (EOP) from January 20, 2025, through January 31, 2026. These individuals held positions at the U.S. DOGE Service (USDS), White House Office, and Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Some of these DOGE personnel were also detailed to other executive agencies outside of EOP. USDS is responsible for coordinating with executive agencies to advance DOGE’s initiatives. Coordination Between U.S. DOGE Service and Other Federal Entities Of the 206 personnel GAO identified, administration officials characterized four as DOGE leaders. The other 202 personnel held positions at either USDS or the White House Office. These personnel held positions as employees, as detailees to these components from other federal agencies, and as volunteers. Twenty-seven of the 206 were special government employees (SGE). At least 128, including one SGE, had separated from their EOP positions by January 31, 2026. EOP officials told GAO that DOGE personnel within EOP receive the same ethics and records management training as other EOP personnel. However, EOP did not respond to GAO’s requests for access to training records and financial disclosures for DOGE personnel. As a result, GAO could not determine all DOGE personnel who received training or completed financial disclosures with EOP. Nine executive agencies provided information on ethics and records management activities for 64 DOGE personnel who held positions at those agencies and also within EOP. According to this information, 49 completed ethics training, 18 completed records management training, and 38 filed financial disclosures with those agencies during the time frame of GAO’s review. Officials from the nine agencies told GAO that some of the 28 personnel they identified as detailees should have completed these activities with their home agencies. Officials from six agencies told GAO that no individuals at those agencies met GAO’s scoping criteria. Ten did not provide requested information timely or at all. As a result, GAO could not determine all DOGE personnel who held positions, received training, or completed financial disclosures with these 10 agencies. Officials from the Office of Government Ethics, the supervising ethics office for the executive branch, told GAO that they have limited responsibilities concerning the activities of DOGE personnel and do not oversee executive branch employees. Officials said their office has not reviewed an EOP ethics program since 2023 and has no plans to review USDS’s program in the next 4 years because the temporary organization within USDS terminated on July 4, 2026. Why GAO Did This Study In January and February 2025, several executive orders directed DOGE to implement a series of government reform initiatives, including to reform the federal workforce and reduce spending. DOGE personnel include SGEs. SGEs may have substantial financial interests outside the federal government that can conflict with their federal responsibilities. Appropriate ethics and records management practices can help support ethical behavior. GAO was asked to review the employment status of selected DOGE personnel and their activities. This report examines information about (1) the federal positions of EOP DOGE personnel, and (2) their completion of ethics and records management training and their filing of financial disclosures. For this review, GAO defined EOP DOGE personnel as those who held positions (1) as USDS personnel from January 20, 2025, through January 31, 2026; or (2) as personnel at other EOP components (White House Office or OMB) who assisted USDS or federal agencies in advancing DOGE’s initiatives during this time frame. This included individuals who were detailed from EOP to other agencies or from other agencies to EOP. GAO reviewed information from court filings, the administration, and executive agencies about identified personnel’s federal positions. GAO also reviewed information from these sources about identified personnel’s ethics and records management training and their filing of financial disclosures. In addition, GAO interviewed Office of Government Ethics and National Archives and Records Administration officials about their efforts to support EOP ethics and records management activities for DOGE personnel. GAO requested interviews with EOP, but EOP did not respond to these requests. For more information, contact Jessica Lucas-Judy at lucasjudyj@gao.gov.

DOGE: Information on Personnel and Ethics Activities

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