ESTABLISHING AND IMPLEMENTING THE PRESIDENT'S "DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY"
This executive order establishes the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to improve the efficiency and productivity of the federal government.
It renames the United States Digital Service as the U.S. DOGE Service (USDS) and creates a temporary organization within it to implement the President's 18-month DOGE agenda.
Each federal agency is to form a DOGE Team to coordinate with USDS. The order prioritizes the modernization of federal software, network infrastructure, and IT systems, ensuring data integrity and interoperability, while displacing conflicting prior executive orders.
Arguments For
- Intended benefits: Increased government efficiency and productivity through modernized technology and software. Improved interoperability between agency systems.Enhanced data integrity and responsible data collection.
- Evidence cited: The order cites the president's DOGE agenda as justification and implies existing inefficiencies in federal technology and software as the problem requiring a solution.
- Implementation methods: Creation of the U.S. DOGE Service (USDS), establishment of DOGE Teams within each agency, and a Software Modernization Initiative.
- Legal/historical basis: The order is issued under the authority vested in the President by the Constitution and laws of the United States.
Arguments Against
- Potential impacts: Potential challenges in coordinating efforts across numerous agencies. Possible disruption during the implementation of new systems and processes. Concerns about data security and privacy.
- Implementation challenges: Resistance from agencies to changes in their systems. Difficulties in securing necessary funding and personnel. Potential conflicts between the new DOGE structure and existing bureaucratic procedures.
- Alternative approaches: Phased implementation of technology upgrades to minimize disruption. Focus on specific, high-impact areas for modernization rather than a comprehensive overhaul. Greater reliance on existing internal IT capacities.
- Unintended effects: Unforeseen technical issues or compatibility problems during system modernization. Overly centralized control that might reduce the flexibility of individual agencies.
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:
This introductory statement asserts the President's legal authority to issue the executive order.
Section 1. Purpose. This Executive Order establishes the Department of Government Efficiency to implement the President’s DOGE Agenda, by modernizing Federal technology and software to maximize governmental efficiency and productivity.
The executive order's purpose is to create the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to modernize federal technology and software and thereby increase efficiency and productivity.
Sec. 2. Definitions. As used in this order:
(a) “Agency” has the meaning given to it in section 551 of title 5, United States Code, except that such term does not include the Executive Office of the President or any components thereof.
(b) “Agency Head” means the highest-ranking official of an agency, such as the Secretary, Administrator, Chairman, or Director, unless otherwise specified in this order.
This section defines key terms used in the order. 'Agency' refers to federal agencies, excluding the Executive Office of the President. 'Agency Head' denotes the top official of each agency.
Sec. 3. DOGE Structure. (a) Reorganization and Renaming of the United States Digital Service. The United States Digital Service is hereby publicly renamed as the United States DOGE Service (USDS) and shall be established in the Executive Office of the President.
(b) Establishment of a Temporary Organization. There shall be a USDS Administrator established in the Executive Office of the President who shall report to the White House Chief of Staff. There is further established within USDS, in accordance with section 3161 of title 5, United States Code, a temporary organization known as “the U.S. DOGE Service Temporary Organization”. The U.S. DOGE Service Temporary Organization shall be headed by the USDS Administrator and shall be dedicated to advancing the President’s 18-month DOGE agenda. The U.S. DOGE Service Temporary Organization shall terminate on July 4, 2026. The termination of the U.S. DOGE Service Temporary Organization shall not be interpreted to imply the termination, attenuation, or amendment of any other authority or provision of this order.
(c) DOGE Teams. In consultation with USDS, each Agency Head shall establish within their respective Agencies a DOGE Team of at least four employees, which may include Special Government Employees, hired or assigned within thirty days of the date of this Order. Agency Heads shall select the DOGE Team members in consultation with the USDS Administrator. Each DOGE Team will typically include one DOGE Team Lead, one engineer, one human resources specialist, and one attorney. Agency Heads shall ensure that DOGE Team Leads coordinate their work with USDS and advise their respective Agency Heads on implementing the President’s DOGE Agenda.
This section outlines the structure of the DOGE. It renames and reorganizes the United States Digital Service into the USDS within the Executive Office of the President.
A temporary organization, the U.S. DOGE Service Temporary Organization, is created to focus on the President's 18-month DOGE agenda.
Each agency is required to establish a DOGE Team to work with USDS on implementation.
Sec. 4. Modernizing Federal Technology and Software to Maximize Efficiency and Productivity. (a) The USDS Administrator shall commence a Software Modernization Initiative to improve the quality and efficiency of government-wide software, network infrastructure, and information technology (IT) systems. Among other things, the USDS Administrator shall work with Agency Heads to promote inter-operability between agency networks and systems, ensure data integrity, and facilitate responsible data collection and synchronization.
(b) Agency Heads shall take all necessary steps, in coordination with the USDS Administrator and to the maximum extent consistent with law, to ensure USDS has full and prompt access to all unclassified agency records, software systems, and IT systems. USDS shall adhere to rigorous data protection standards.
(c) This Executive Order displaces all prior executive orders and regulations, insofar as they are subject to direct presidential amendment, that might serve as a barrier to providing USDS access to agency records and systems as described above.
This section details the Software Modernization Initiative, led by the USDS Administrator, to improve federal IT systems.
Agencies must cooperate by providing the USDS with access to relevant information, while the USDS must uphold data protection standards.
This order supersedes any conflicting prior orders or regulations.
Sec. 5. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
This section includes general provisions.
It clarifies that the order does not diminish existing agency authority or the OMB's budgetary functions.
It specifies that implementation will adhere to applicable laws and funding availability.
Finally, it states that this order does not create any legally enforceable rights.
THE WHITE HOUSE,
January 20, 2025.
This is the closing section, indicating the date and location of the order.