A new hiring directive from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is paving the way for the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to expand its role in federal technology oversight. The directive, issued Feb. 4, instructs agencies to reclassify chief information officer (CIO) roles from career-reserved positions to general roles, making them eligible for political appointment.
Agencies have until Feb. 14 to submit requests for the reclassification. The OPM memo states that CIOs are no longer just technical managers but also key decision-makers shaping public policy on digital infrastructure. The Trump administration has prioritized modernizing federal technology, and DOGE has been central to this effort.
With the federal government’s IT spending reaching an estimated $163 billion annually, the administration has pushed for a more streamlined approach to procurement and management. DOGE, backed by entrepreneur Elon Musk, has led the charge in reviewing vendor contracts and reducing reliance on outside contractors. The new CIO appointments are expected to accelerate these changes.
The restructuring has faced backlash from federal employees and Democratic lawmakers. Protests outside OPM headquarters have drawn attention to concerns about shifting CIO positions to political appointments. Critics argue that these changes could impact agency independence, with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez calling the move a “coup.”
A separate controversy has unfolded over DOGE’s access to government records. A lawsuit filed by labor unions claims that the Treasury Department gave DOGE personnel access to private financial data. The case, which names Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, alleges that sensitive records—including Social Security numbers and bank account information—were improperly shared. A judge has temporarily blocked DOGE from accessing these records while the case is reviewed.
Despite the resistance, Musk and former DOGE co-lead Vivek Ramaswamy continue to argue for broad IT reforms. Musk has stated that outdated procurement policies have led to government waste, while Ramaswamy has pointed to inefficiencies in how different agencies manage their digital operations. The administration’s push for restructuring continues as DOGE solidifies its position in federal technology leadership.
