A shift in federal hiring policy is expanding the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) influence in government technology management. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has directed federal agencies to change how chief information officers (CIOs) are hired, opening the door for these positions to become political appointments rather than career-reserved roles.
The OPM memo, issued Feb. 4, gives agencies until Feb. 14 to request the change. The directive argues that CIOs now play a major role in policy decisions, handling responsibilities that go beyond technical work. DOGE, which emerged from the U.S. Digital Service, has been working to modernize outdated government technology and restructure IT procurement processes.
The federal government’s IT spending reached approximately $163 billion last year, with many agencies relying on private contractors rather than in-house solutions. DOGE, backed by entrepreneur Elon Musk, is leading efforts to cut unnecessary costs and streamline operations. The new hiring policy is expected to help integrate DOGE’s initiatives across multiple agencies.
Not everyone supports the changes. Protests have taken place outside OPM’s headquarters, with critics arguing that shifting CIO positions to political appointees could impact agency independence. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has called the effort a “coup,” warning that the restructuring could concentrate too much control over government technology in the hands of political allies.
A lawsuit has also been filed against the Treasury Department, alleging that DOGE representatives were granted improper access to sensitive financial data. The suit, led by labor unions, claims that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent gave DOGE personnel access to records containing Social Security numbers, banking information, and other private details. A judge has temporarily halted DOGE’s access to these records while the case proceeds.
Musk and former DOGE co-lead Vivek Ramaswamy have pushed back against the criticism, maintaining that the government’s IT structure is inefficient and in need of reform. Musk has argued that procurement policies must be updated, while Ramaswamy has pointed out that many federal agencies rely on outdated systems that do not communicate with each other.
