Ex-DOGE boss ran rogue meetings and installed loyalists despite ouster

One of DOGE's top staffers did not go quietly into that dark night after he was let go from the agency, according to a new report.

Steve Davis, who led DOGE's operations, was let go from his post on May 29, according to the Office of Management and Personnel. However, Politico reported on Monday that Davis continued running meetings with the General Services Administration and asked DOGE staffers for regular updates about their work. Davis also pitched creating a DOGE 2.0, according to the report, which cited two sources familiar with the situation.

“He was at the GSA running the meeting like it was business as usual,” one of the sources said.

According to Politico, Davis had six employees under his supervision while he worked and after he was let go from the department. Some of those employees became uneasy about taking directions from Davis and sought an opinion from DOGE's general counsel. The department's lawyer confirmed to the worried staffers that Davis is no longer a government employee.

That opinion didn't sit well with Davis, according to the report. Davis then moved to install a trio of loyalists in DOGE's leadership, who then began to investigate whether the rest of the department was being disloyal.

“They claimed authority from [Vice President] JD Vance and [chief of staff] Susie Wiles but actually did not and do not have it — they were bluffing,” one of the sources said.

The events with Davis underscore the continued impact of DOGE outside of its efforts to cut federal spending. Even though the agency was unable to cut as much spending as Elon Musk said it would, the agency continues to impact staffing, morale, and the philosophical direction of some federal departments.