Elon Musk’s DOGE Staffers Command Six-Figure Salaries Amid Cost-Cutting Mandate

Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency , established to streamline federal operations and reduce expenditures, has come under scrutiny as several of its staff members receive substantial taxpayer-funded salaries. This revelation contrasts with Musk’s earlier assertions that DOGE positions were unpaid and voluntary.

Notably, Kyle Schutt, a software engineer assigned to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, earns $195,200 annually—the maximum salary permitted for a federal employee. Similarly, Nate Cavanaugh, a 28-year-old tech entrepreneur involved in restructuring efforts at the General Services Administration , receives $120,500 per year. These figures surpass the average earnings of many seasoned federal employees.

Initially, DOGE’s budget and staffing plans were ambiguous, with expectations that many roles would be volunteer-based. However, by February 4, approximately $6.75 million had been allocated to DOGE from the Information Technology Oversight and Reform account—the same fund that previously supported the U.S. Digital Service. This allocation nearly doubled the annual salaries and expenses budget of the White House. By February 20, reports indicated that DOGE’s budget had escalated to nearly $40 million. Despite this significant funding, detailed disclosures regarding DOGE’s expenditures and staff salaries have not been made publicly available.

The disparity between Musk’s portrayal of DOGE as a lean, volunteer-driven initiative and the reality of its substantial budget and salaried positions has raised concerns. Critics argue that while DOGE aims to eliminate inefficiencies within federal agencies, it may be perpetuating similar issues by allocating considerable funds to its operations.

The backgrounds of certain DOGE staffers have attracted attention. For instance, Miles B. Collins, recently affiliated with DOGE, has connections to a fertility clinic and the pronatalist movement, which advocates for increased reproduction rates. Collins and his wife owned Pacific Fertility Center, now embroiled in employee lawsuits. Additionally, his brother Malcolm Collins and sister-in-law Simone are central figures in the pronatalist movement, aiming to have many children with selected traits. Previous DOGE staff placements, including Marko Elez and Aram Moghaddassi, faced controversy, with Elez stepping down after racist posts and Moghaddassi criticizing federal agencies pre-Trump administration.

Unions have expressed privacy concerns over DOGE’s access to Labor Department data that may benefit Musk, but the Trump administration denied these claims. The involvement of individuals with such affiliations has sparked debates about potential conflicts of interest and the overall direction of DOGE’s initiatives.