The Department of Government Efficiency, established under President Donald Trump and ostensibly led by Elon Musk, has become one of the most disruptive forces seen in modern governance. With more than 221,000 federal employees already laid off and plans underway to cut the federal workforce by 75%, the impact of DOGE’s actions is real, and Pennsylvania is one of its earliest casualties.

While DOGE’s stated mission is to streamline government, the results have been more chaotic than efficient. In Pennsylvania, the fallout has amounted to at least $15 million in lost federal support across vital sectors such as food security, housing assistance and education. From the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank losing millions of pounds of food to Montgomery County missing out on a $5 million homelessness grant, the effects have been severe and far-reaching.

Yet, the financial toll tells only part of the story. The human cost is far greater. DOGE has overseen the elimination of hundreds of thousands of federal jobs, including many held by veterans.

There have been 2,400 positions eliminated from the Department of Veterans Affairs alone. The National Federation of Federal Employees estimates that if DOGE’s plan moves forward unchecked, nearly 500,000 veterans could also lose their jobs. These are people who served their country now being discarded in the name of efficiency.

What makes this even more concerning is the shadowy nature of DOGE itself. Officially housed within the Executive Office of the President, DOGE operates outside traditional channels of accountability.

Unlike cabinet agencies, DOGE’s leaders are not confirmed by the Senate, and the agency has no statutory authority to alter congressionally appropriated funds. Moreover, its decisions are shielded from public view, thanks to the Presidential Records Act, which seals its documentation until 2034.

This lack of transparency should alarm anyone who values democratic oversight and fiscal responsibility.

The nature of DOGE’s leadership is also dubious. Elon Musk, despite being widely understood as the public face of the agency, holds no formal government position. Yet a federal judge recently ruled that Musk was effectively acting as DOGE’s leader, wielding decision-making power without official appointment. In any other context, this would be a textbook example of government overreach – an unelected, unconfirmed private citizen reshaping the federal workforce on a whim.

Musk’s expected departure from DOGE this spring might close one chapter, but the consequences of his involvement will linger. Hundreds of thousands of displaced workers, particularly veterans, will need support. Public services gutted by budget cuts will take years to rebuild. And states like Pennsylvania will have to fill in the gaps left behind by an agency that was never fully accountable to begin with.

But there is a silver lining: resilience at the state level. Gov. Josh Shapiro recently signed an executive order designed to expand state employment opportunities for veterans. And if you’re a federal employee affected by DOGE’s actions, know this – the commonwealth values your skills, your dedication and your service. You are not expendable. You are essential.

This moment demands more than outrage; it demands a course correction. Congress must step in to rein in DOGE’s unchecked power and restore funding to the programs our communities rely on. And as citizens, we must remain vigilant about who is making decisions in Washington – and whether they are doing so with the transparency and legitimacy that our democracy requires.

DOGE was pitched as a revolution in efficiency. In reality, it’s a reckless experiment in privatized governance that has left Pennsylvania – and the nation – paying the price. It’s time to take a hard look at what we’ve lost, who made those decisions and how we prevent this from happening again.

State Rep. Mary Jo Daley, D-148, represents part of Montgomery County. She is chair of the Pennsylvania House Tourism.