World's richest man, Elon Musk, has a new title! Meet DOGE’s self-proclaimed ‘volunteer IT consultant’

Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, has given himself a new title—“Volunteer IT Consultant”—as part of his involvement in the newly proposed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), as reported by the Washington Times. “My preferred title in the new administration is Volunteer IT Consultant. Need to fix the IT infrastructure in order to make government work,” Musk shared on social media platform X. He described the task as a "grind" but essential for achieving government efficiency and tackling the national deficit.

The DOGE, co-led by Musk and billionaire entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, aims to address inefficiencies in the US government by focusing on outdated IT systems and reducing misuse of taxpayer funds.

Federal IT Systems in Critical Condition

Musk has been vocal about the dire state of the US government’s IT infrastructure. “The federal government’s computers & software are in such bad shape that they often cannot verify that payments are not fraud, waste or abuse!” he wrote on X. He added, “That’s why the government can’t pass basic audits. They often LITERALLY don’t know where your tax dollars went. It’s insane.”


To support his concerns, Musk referenced a 2019 government watchdog report that identified 10 federal IT systems as outdated. The report highlighted that maintaining these systems costs approximately $337 million annually and that their continued use exposes the government to "known security vulnerabilities." These challenges, Musk argued, hinder effective governance and accountability.

DOGE’s Mission and Priorities

Musk and Ramaswamy’s efforts through DOGE are centred on improving the management of taxpayer money by tackling inefficiencies in entitlement programmes and eliminating wasteful practices. While the exact authority of DOGE is yet to be determined, the team has identified areas requiring immediate intervention.

In addition to modernising IT infrastructure, the initiative also involves monitoring government expenditures. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who heads a DOGE subcommittee in the House, revealed that Musk and Ramaswamy are considering creating “naughty” and “nice” lists to assess lawmakers’ fiscal behaviours based on their spending records.

The concept of DOGE aligns with ongoing efforts to reform government operations and optimise resource utilisation. Musk’s participation brings a technological perspective to the initiative, leveraging his expertise as CEO of Tesla and SpaceX. His outspoken stance on IT inefficiencies underscores the broader need to modernise infrastructure to reduce fraud and improve programme efficiency.

While the scope and impact of DOGE’s recommendations are yet to unfold, Musk and Ramaswamy’s leadership represents a bold approach to addressing longstanding issues in government spending and accountability.