DOGE AI implementation worrisome for watchers of federal government

It’s a DOGE-e-DOGE world, and not everyone’s happy to be living in it.

The Department of Government Efficiency‘s reported use of artificial intelligence to guide federal budget cuts marks a controversial milestone in AI’s expanding role in public sector decision-making. This development raises significant concerns about civil rights, data security, and the potential dismantling of essential government services, particularly given the precedent set by Elon Musk’s previous cost-cutting measures at Twitter that led to technical disruptions and legal challenges.

The big picture: Elon Musk’s team at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is reportedly leveraging AI to accelerate their goal of cutting $1 trillion from the federal budget deficit.

Key concerns: AI experts warn that using current AI systems for government workforce decisions could lead to severe consequences.

• The technology risks violating civil rights and making biased firing decisions that could disproportionately affect certain employee groups.
• Security concerns arise from AI systems potentially accessing sensitive government data during the decision-making process.
• The rapid implementation mirrors Musk’s “cut first, fix later” approach previously seen at Twitter.

What they’re saying: Former Meta Responsible AI team member David Evan Harris strongly criticizes the initiative.

• “It’s just so complicated and difficult to rely on an AI system for something like this, and it runs a massive risk of violating people’s civil rights,” Harris stated.
• “With the current AI systems that we have, it is simply a bad idea to use AI to do something like this.”

Why it matters: The stakes for AI-driven government cuts far exceed those of private sector restructuring.

• John Hatton from the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association warns that unlike private company cuts, “You do that in the federal government, and people may die.”

The impact: DOGE’s actions have already created widespread disruption across federal agencies.

• Entire departments have been gutted, causing uncertainty and chaos among federal employees.
• The approach has led to confusing demands being placed on remaining government workers.

Historical context: The strategy mirrors Musk’s Twitter takeover two years ago, which resulted in widespread technical issues, lawsuits, and damage to the platform’s advertising business following massive staff reductions.