Ex-Doge Engineer Discloses Insights on Time with Cost-Reduction Division
FREAKIN' HOST:
Hey there, it's March 17, and let's talk about a software engineer named Sahil Lavingia. He joined the Department of Government Efficiency as a VA contractor on the 17th, but his gig suddenly ended on May 9, just 55 days later. Hear him out as he dishes on his stint working for DOGE, the cost-cutting unit formerly affiliated with Elon Musk. Sahil's here to spill the beans. Welcome, man!
SAHIL: Thanks for having me.
HOST: So, dude, how did you end up getting involved with DOGE?
SAHIL: My buddy's buddy was a DOGE software engineer, and I applied for the U.S. Digital Service back in 2015. I've always wanted to code for the feds. Since DOGE was the current way to do that, I asked my friend for an intro. We chatted on Signal, and a few months later, they offered me a VA gig.
HOST: You've worked with the U.S. Digital Service and had been a Bernmaker back in 2016. Given that DOGE is the Trump administration's big "Day 1" initiative for cutting programs and personnel, some folks might be surprised that you'd want to join.
SAHIL: Naw, man. I'm all about enhancing the user experience for folks dealing with the U.S. federal government. People hate the crappy tools and tech they use when interacting with our government, and I've loved coding since high school. So whether it's making taxes less of a pain or helping vets get benefits, if my code helps, I'm in.
Even if my friends and family aren't crazy about it, I'll take the gig.
HOST: You mentioned that you initially applied to the U.S. Digital Service. And we know you were out there stumping for Bernie back in '16. So how'd you end up working with DOGE, which, let's face it, has some Trump-y vibes?
SAHIL: Truth be told, I thought DOGE was all-powerful based on what I'd seen on Twitter and news. When I joined, I realized agencies mostly called the shots. They made the decisions, cut staff, contracts. DOGE just took some heat for unpopular moves.
HOST: On your website, you wrote about DOGE having no real authority, and agency heads essentially used you as a scapegoat for their actions. Is there a specific example you can share?
SAHIL: Definitely. DOGE got credit for controversial decisions, but in reality, agencies made them. Despite appearances, we didn't have much influence. On day 3, I was compiling HR data for upcoming layoffs. The VA wants to chop 15% of their workforce, but it's not possible, given the VA's hospital network. They drew a line: nursing, clinicians, physicians providing direct care would escape the cuts.
HOST: If those people see you as someone who helped the Trump administration push them out of a job, what would you say to them?
SAHIL: I wouldn't kid them. The VA can't really cut 15% of their staff. Officially, they won't cut jobs tied to direct care. I helped build org charts, nothing more. I didn't decide who got the ax.
HOST: You took some heat for your transparency. In a published interview, you spoke openly about your stint with DOGE. Elon Musk pledged max transparency, yet you released open-source code for anyone to access. Those things seem contradictory, don't they?
SAHIL: Well, I did get the boot shortly after the interview went live. It's also possible I got canned for another reason. Give Elon credit, though, letting someone go for transparency in the most transparent org is kinda entertaining.
HOST: Man, thanks for sharing your story with us. It was a blast.
SAHIL: My pleasure.
SAHIL: Despite appearances, we didn't have much influence in DOGE; agencies made the decisions and drew the lines for cuts.
HOST: It's interesting how your open-source code release contrasts with Elon Musk's pledge for max transparency, yet you were let go shortly after.
