Steve Davis May Have Officially Left DOGE in May — But Officials Say He Still Pulls the Strings

Steve Davis, long known as Elon Musk’s right-hand operator, officially left the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in May. But according to multiple government sources, his departure may have been only on paper. Behind the scenes, Davis continues to wield significant influence within DOGE—coaching staff, calling strategy meetings, and keeping Musk’s agenda alive via encrypted channels.

### Continued Influence via Signal and Phone

Despite leaving his formal role, Davis reportedly stays in regular contact with DOGE personnel through apps like Signal and direct phone calls :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}. Sources tell TechCrunch he “regularly gives directions to current DOGE officials” and has dismissed his resignation as “fake news” :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}. One source explained: “The whole operation has always been done on Signal, so nothing actually has to change for him to continue telling people what to do”—no email or badge required :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}.

### The Power Struggle Inside DOGE

With Musk and Davis both gone, DOGE now faces internal contention. Allies are pushing for a new “DOGE 2. 0” strategy—moving beyond workforce cuts and toward modernizing federal IT infrastructure :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}.

However, White House insiders and agency heads remain wary of this quiet Musk-backed resurgence, leading to loyalty tests in meetings, distrust, and even efforts to remove pro-Davis staff :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}. ### Who’s Actually in Charge?

Legally, Amy Gleason is the Acting Administrator of DOGE, appointed by the White House after Musk’s and Davis’s departure :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}. Yet insiders say daily operations and strategy remain centrally influenced by Davis—leading some to question whether DOGE has truly changed hands :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}.

### Concerns About Mossed Oversight & Political Motives

Critics caution that this back-channel influence could undermine transparency and prioritise Musk-linked interests. DOGE workers report discussions about promoting SpaceX, Tesla, and X partnerships, and even exploring Starlink pilots inside agencies—raising conflict-of-interest concerns :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}. ### Why This Matters

DOGE was created under Trump’s executive order to root out waste, fraud, and outdated systems across federal agencies.

Its future direction matters to anyone invested in digital government transformation, ethics, and accountability. If Davis continues to call the shots, it may reflect a deeper culture of decentralized power—and blurred lines between government and private-sector networks linked to Musk. ### What’s Next for DOGE

The White House has begun scaling back DOGE’s footprint in some agencies and giving more control to cabinet heads :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}.

Meanwhile, Davis and his allies continue outreach, including a June pitch to revamp the National Parks website under a “growth mode” vision :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}. The question now is whether DOGE can truly transition into a transparent, accountable body—or whether it will remain influenced by outside operatives. In short, Steve Davis may have “left” DOGE in May—but insiders say he never really stepped away from the boardroom.

His continued role highlights growing concern over governance in digital services, and whether Musk-aligned political influence still shapes federal strategy.