Overview

• Elon Musk reiterated his plan to step down from DOGE leadership by the end of May, citing the 130-day limit for his role as a special government employee.
• DOGE's takeover of the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) has led to mass layoffs, asset transfer attempts, and ongoing legal disputes over its $500 million headquarters.
• The agency gained access to sensitive federal payroll systems, raising cybersecurity and privacy concerns, with senior IT officials reportedly sidelined for objecting.
• Marko Elez, a controversial DOGE staffer who resigned over racist social media posts, has been reinstated with expanded access to sensitive government systems.
• President Trump hinted at a potential wind-down of DOGE following Musk's departure, though the initiative's long-term future remains uncertain.