What DOGE is doing should be done methodically and with the precision of a surgeon—scalpel in hand. Instead, Musk is acting more like a coked-up, angry uncle at a pinata party. Unfortunately, given the circumstances, that’s currently the state of affairs.Many people are understandably frustrated by the layoffs and subsequent rehiring at these government nuclear agencies. However, it’s important to recognize the broader context: these agencies operate with a high degree of secrecy and, frankly, a shocking lack of accountability.
For starters, they generally don’t track performance metrics for their staff—essentially, it’s as if they don’t care whether they’re doing a good job or not. And when audits come in (and we’re not even talking about formal federal audits sometimes), they consistently fail to produce or document what they do. People are quick to say DOGE didn’t understand what these agencies do, but that misses the crucial point: these agencies simply can’t—or won’t—explain their operations.
This is exactly why I’ve steered clear of working with governments when possible. My father worked with several federal nuclear agencies during his decades at Raytheon, and he used to bitch non-stop about how they lacked documentation, peer review, and any real metrics tracking… least of which, accountability. I’m confident that when DOGE asked what they do, they couldn’t explain their value or criticality. My wife, too, has hands-on experience as an auditor and regulator with both state boards…. and while SOME folks are insanely hard working and smart; the overwhelming majority operate with a clear disdain for any form of external judgment or accountability. Particularly, the federal nuclear and energy divisions have a long history of telling other audit branches to “fuck off,” doing whatever they want without any fear of being checked.
This begs the question: is that really the type of people we want overseeing some of the nation’s most critical responsibilities? I get why people say it’s scary to let them go, but from what I’ve seen over decades, it’s equally terrifying how these divisions have been run and who’s been in control. Sure, it’s an insanely dumb situation and it could have been handled much better. But here’s the thing: I’m a proponent of finally holding these agencies accountable. Accountability matters, and if this shake-up forces a serious look at how these organizations operate, then maybe, just maybe, we can start moving toward real reform.
Is DOGE—and by extension, Musk—the right team for this mess? Probably not. But someone needs to light a fire under their asses. For decades, we’ve heard cries for someone to check on the feds and government; ever since the 90s, people have been pissed off that the feds operate with impunity. Until we have a better, actionable path, I’m, honestly, okay with these risks—for now.