Search

Home > Planet Money > Why I joined DOGE
Podcast: Planet Money
Episode:

Why I joined DOGE

Category: Business
Duration: 00:27:25
Publish Date: 2025-06-14 01:47:18
Description: What was it like to work inside Elon Musk's DOGE? The cost-cutting initiative promised transparency, but most of its actions have been shrouded in secrecy.

For months, there were reports of software engineers and Trump loyalists entering agencies and accessing sensitive data. DOGE also helped the Trump administration lay off thousands of government workers. NPR reporters have been trying for months to get anyone from DOGE to talk on the record. Now, Sahil Lavingia, a former DOGE staffer assigned to the Department of Veteran Affairs, is speaking.

Today, what drew Sahil to DOGE and what he learned about the inner workings, in a way we've never heard before.

For more on DOGE and the federal workforce:
- The last time we shrank the federal workforce
- Can... we still trust the monthly jobs report?
- Can the Federal Reserve stay independent?

This episode was hosted by Kenny Malone and Bobby Allyn. It was produced by Sam Yellowhorse Kesler and Emma Peaslee. It was edited by Jess Jiang and fact-checked by Sierra Juarez. It was engineered by Neal Rauch. Alex Goldmark is Planet Money's executive producer.

Find more
Planet Money: Facebook / Instagram / TikTok / Our weekly Newsletter.

Listen free at these links:
Apple Podcasts, Spotify, the NPR app or anywhere you get podcasts.

Help support
Planet Money and hear our bonus episodes by subscribing to Planet Money+ in Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org/planetmoney.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy
Total Play: 0

Users also like

2K+ Episodes
NPR Politics .. 1K+     200+
900+ Episodes
TED Radio Ho .. 3K+     300+
0 Episodes
Stuff You Sh .. 6K+     400+
200+ Episodes
Serial 9K+     300+
200+ Episodes
Embedded 200+     10+

Some more Podcasts by NPR

2K+ Episodes
The Indicato .. 200+     20+
900+ Episodes
TED Radio Ho .. 3K+     300+
2K+ Episodes
Pop Culture .. 300+     30+
300+ Episodes
Wait Wait... .. 2     200+
2K+ Episodes
NPR Politics .. 1K+     200+
2K+ Episodes
Up First 2K+     100+
1K+ Episodes
It's Been a .. 40+     7
1K+ Episodes
All Songs Co .. 70+     20+