From DOGE government agencies perspective on how crypto culture is transforming traditional politics: 294 days of symbolic economy experiment

A U.S. government agency named after Dogecoin was brought into the spotlight on the very first day of Trump’s presidency, claiming it would use a chainsaw to cut through bureaucracy and reshape America. But it lasted less than eight months before quietly being disbanded.

This story is quite surreal—US Personnel Management Director Cooper recently officially confirmed: “It no longer exists.” The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), from its birth on January 20 to its dissolution, lasted only 294 days. Ironically, this time span is exactly the same as those fleeting meme coins in the crypto market, following the same script.

Playing with Meme Politics

From the very beginning, this department was infused with the vibe of the crypto scene. Its name directly used the DOGE code, its official website was filled with Shiba Inu images, and the entire visual design completely deconstructed the traditional serious and rigid government aesthetic.

Elon Musk took it a step further. He posted photos holding a chainsaw, captioned as “Chainsaw prepared for bureaucraticism,” employing a promotional style that is a carbon copy of his earlier Dogecoin marketing tactics. On X (formerly Twitter), its dissemination strategy was highly symbolic, resembling an internet cultural movement rather than a serious government launch.

This reflects a new kind of political communication—using internet meme culture to subvert tradition, leveraging humor to engage young generations and internet natives. From this perspective, DOGE is less an institution and more a narrative-driven political experiment.

Silicon Valley Spirit Meets Washington

DOGE’s operational approach completely broke the conventional routine of government agencies. Elon Musk directly hired over 50 young people in their twenties, dressed in hoodies and jeans, moving between federal agencies—completely unrecognizable as traditional civil servants. This team, mockingly called “doll soldiers,” relied on Red Bull and an intense work rhythm, placing personnel in major agencies within three weeks, controlling cash flows, and scrutinizing contracts one by one.

AI technology became the core weapon of this department. From grant allocations to employee travel reimbursements, all data was digitized. AI tools rapidly identified wasteful processes, such as immediately terminating leases on idle government buildings, saving about $150 million.

This “rapid iteration and breaking norms” Silicon Valley spirit caused a huge stir in Washington. DOGE required federal employees to submit weekly reports; failure to do so was treated as resignation. They demanded attendance; absence was treated as administrative leave. This high-pressure management system, in a traditionally rule-bound government system, was essentially challenging the bottom line.

Grand Narratives Meet Reality

Initially, Musk loudly proclaimed goals—cutting $2 trillion from the federal budget, and Ramachwamy even boasted about optimizing 70% of government employees. These figures, common exaggerated claims in crypto hype, were meant to generate buzz and attract attention.

But reality quickly slapped them in the face. DOGE claimed to have cut about $16 billion in expenses, but that was less than one-fifth of Musk’s own target. There’s a huge gap between the grand narrative and actual implementation.

A report from the Democratic members of the Senate Permanent Investigations Subcommittee revealed that DOGE “wasted” over $21 billion in just six months. That’s no small sum—Energy Department loan programs were frozen, causing the government to lose $263 million in interest; USAID’s shutdown led to $110 million worth of food and medicine rotting in warehouses.

DOGE’s reckless approach triggered widespread backlash. Democratic attorneys general in 14 states sued Musk and Trump, accusing them of overreach and violating constitutional appointment clauses. Nearly 20 lawsuits are pending against the department, involving violations from privacy laws to unauthorized access to sensitive data.

Quiet Exit

From a high-profile debut to a silent disappearance, DOGE’s ending contrasts sharply with its inception.

In May, Musk announced he would step down from DOGE, citing conflicts with “the big and beautiful bill” and Trump’s public disapproval. By summer, DOGE personnel had gradually left the headquarters; security posts and authorized signage disappeared. Cooper recently officially confirmed—DOGE no longer exists, with its functions taken over by the Personnel Management Bureau. The once-iconic government-wide hiring freeze associated with DOGE has also been lifted.

Interestingly, some members of the DOGE team have not truly left government. Airbnb co-founder Gebbia now heads a national design studio, and Zachary Trell has become the CTO of the Department of Health. This indicates that DOGE, as an experimental endeavor, has concluded, but some of its ideas are being integrated into traditional government structures.

Florida Governor DeSantis publicly stated on social media: “DOGE fought the swamp, but the swamp won.” This political meme coin experiment ultimately ended with the victory of the traditional power structure.

The Next Step for Symbol Economy

Looking at DOGE’s lifecycle, it’s clear that the symbol economy is deeply penetrating the realm of traditional politics. Although this experiment ended prematurely, it marked an unmistakable sign—the integration of politics and crypto culture is now irreversible.

In the future, more “crypto-native” political entities and governance models are likely to emerge. The key question is: how to balance the innovative enthusiasm of the crypto world with the stability of traditional governance, creating new models that are both symbolically attractive and practically effective?

Ultimately, storytelling is a powerful tool for consensus-building, but when narratives detach from technological implementation and value creation, they become castles in the air. When meme symbols fade, only those technologies and projects that solve real problems will survive in the industry. The story of DOGE might just be another validation of this principle.