DMOs Beware: DOGE Is Coming For U.S. Tourism Boards

On November 12, President-elect Donald Trump announced the creation of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), calling it “the Manhattan Project of our time.” 

Led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, the initiative is poised to overhaul the very structure of the federal government through significant staff reductions and technological integration. 

Among the ambitious goals: Eliminate $2 trillion from the $6 trillion annual federal budget and dismantle outdated regulations. The department plans public audits of all federal agencies to expose waste.

With a timeline of just 18 months, DOGE’s aggressive goals and high-profile leadership guarantee significant media coverage and public debate, making it one of the most visible government initiatives in recent history.

The buzz and impact of DOGE’s federal proposals, combined with aggressive bureaucratic pushback, will likely create a media frenzy, inspiring state and local politicians to launch similar efficiency reviews — much like McCarthy-era actions led to widespread local initiatives in the 1950s.