DOGE staffers caught sleeping in federal office, outfitting rooms with IKEA beds, lamps, and dressers in bizarre setup

Staffers at DOGE, Elon Musk’s cost-cutting team, are reportedly using IKEA flatpacks which are affordable, easy-to-assemble furniture kits, in order to build makeshift bedrooms inside federal office buildings, that they are trying to dismantle in the first place. This comes as they work to shrink the same government agencies they’re temporarily living in, according to recent Politico report.

DOGE has fired several federal workers and canceled their contracts, and pushed to reduce government property in just a few weeks. But while slashing costs, employees aren’t skimping on sleep. At least four rooms on the 6th floor of the General Services Administration (GSA) building have been turned into sleeping spaces, complete with IKEA beds, lamps, and dressers, two employees told Politico.

Why IKEA flatpacks?

These kits are designed for quick, tool-free assembly and come in flat, compact boxes, making them perfect for tight office spaces. No carpentry skills or heavy equipment are needed — just follow the instructions. This lets DOGE staffers set up temporary bedrooms cheaply and discreetly, even as they work to dismantle the agencies around them.


The irony is hard to miss: While DOGE aggressively downsizes the government’s real estate, its own team is expanding their personal space inside those very buildings.

FAQs:

Is DOGE using IKEA furniture?
Yes, it looks like staffers at the Department of Government Efficiency are turning to IKEA flatpacks which are easy to assemble.

Is DOGE firing federal workers?
Yes, DOGE is currently firing federal workers and has already canceled hundreds of contracts of federal employees previously.