The Journal. Inside DOGE's Campaign of Secrecy
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Feb 28, 2025 
Scott Patterson, a WSJ reporter specializing in government operations, dives deep into DOGE's clandestine activities during Trump's presidency. He reveals how DOGE's programmers infiltrated the Office of Personnel Management, leading to controversial layoffs across federal agencies. Patterson discusses the backlash from agency leaders and the ethical implications of these maneuvers. He also critiques DOGE's claims of saving billions, exposing discrepancies in reported figures, while highlighting the unintended consequences of such drastic leadership decisions on the federal workforce.
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OPM Incursion
- DOGE programmers arrived at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) on Inauguration Day.
- They quickly gained access to OPM systems despite initial resistance.
OPM's Importance
- OPM was targeted first because it's the human resources center for the federal workforce.
- DOGE aimed to leverage OPM's systems to reduce the federal workforce.
DOGE's Isolation Tactics
- DOGE isolated themselves from career staff at OPM, setting up on the fifth floor.
- They controlled access, using printed photos to identify authorized personnel.