What DOGE Means for Engineering

The past few weeks have been filled with cabinet nominations and speculation about what a second Trump administration might look like. As we head into Thanksgiving weekend, the pieces are largely in place, revealing a clear strategy to shake up the Washington establishment. One of the most notable developments is the creation of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy.

 It’s important to note that DOGE isn’t a formal government department but an advisory committee, with Musk and Ramaswamy serving as volunteers, not employees. Their role will be to make recommendations, with implementation left to either regulatory and executive action or moving legislation through Congress, which will be challenging with the tight margins next year.  

For anyone wondering how Musk and Ramaswamy expect to undertake their mission, I encourage you to read their November 20th editorial in the Wall Street Journal, “The DOGE Plan to Reform Government.”  

In their column, Musk and Ramaswamy detail a series of existing legal precedents and legislative tools at the White House’s disposal to reduce the federal workforce and the size and scope of the federal government. It largely appears that their primary targets will be within the federal bureaucracy. However, we should be aware/prepared for that to bleed into our industry’s work with public clients. 

At the moment, DOGE seems to have strong support among Republican lawmakers. In the Senate, Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) has announced the formation of a DOGE Caucus, while in the House, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) will lead a DOGE Subcommittee under the House Oversight Committee.  

What does this all mean for America’s engineering firms? Here’s what we know so far about DOGE’s initial focus from news reports:  

• Streamlining Government: Musk and Ramaswamy are committed to reducing government bureaucracy. Musk plans to use his X platform (formerly Twitter) to rally public support for cutting government spending, while Ramaswamy pledged to fire 50% of federal employees during his own run for the White House.  

• Federal Contractors on Notice: DOGE is focused on cutting costs and eliminating waste, including for federal contractors. While the engineering industry hasn’t been called out specifically, they’ve warned that contractors may face “massive cuts” in what they can charge.   

• "Zombie" Programs: DOGE is also looking at so-called "zombie" programs—federal programs that continue to receive funding even after their congressional authorizations have expired. While most federal infrastructure programs are routinely reauthorized, there could be friction over whether the president can “impound,” or refuse to spend appropriated funds – such as IIJA discretionary transportation grants -- a question that could end up in the courts.  

• Regulatory Reform: DOGE will also look at whether regulatory actions conform to recent Supreme Court decisions, particularly the overturning of the so-called Chevron doctrine, which had previously given agencies wide latitude to interpret and implement the laws passed by Congress. This could have the positive effect of ensuring that environmental and other regulations that impact our markets are based on sound science and data and reflect congressional intent.  

This is all very preliminary, but DOGE is emblematic of the perspective we can expect from the second Trump White House. As an organization committed to innovation and efficiency, we support efforts to reduce government waste and regulatory hurdles where they make sense. However, we also recognize the importance of maintaining the safety, reliability, and quality of our nation’s infrastructure. While there are certainly areas of government spending that deserve scrutiny, we’ll continue to advocate for the value of Qualifications-Based Selection (QBS) and ensure that DOGE’s work does not compromise the standards that protect the public.