In a bold move to modernize federal technology, Elon Musk has appointed 21-year-old Indian-American engineer Akash Bobba to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). This initiative, established by an executive order from President Trump on January 20, 2025, seeks to “maximize governmental efficiency and productivity” through technological innovation.
Who is Akash Bobba?
Akash Bobba is a recent graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, where he excelled in the Management, Entrepreneurship, and Technology (MET) program. His impressive credentials include internships at tech giants like Palantir and Meta, where he developed artificial intelligence models. He also gained experience in financial modeling during his tenure at the hedge fund Bridgewater Associates.
Bobba’s former classmate, Charis Zhang, recounted an incident that highlights his exceptional coding skills: “During a project at Berkeley, I accidentally deleted our entire codebase. I panicked. Akash just stared at the screen, shrugged, and rewrote everything from scratch in one night—better than before. We submitted early and got first in the class.”
The Role of DOGE
The Department of Government Efficiency aims to modernize federal technology and software, aligning with President Trump’s campaign promises to reduce federal overhead, decrease the fiscal deficit, and ensure proper utilization of the federal budget. Musk has proposed that the DOGE project could shrink the federal budget by up to $2 trillion through measures such as workforce reduction, elimination of redundant agencies, and consolidation of federal entities from 400 to fewer than 100.
Controversy and Criticism
The appointment of young engineers like Bobba to high-level positions within DOGE has sparked debate. Critics express concern over their lack of prior public service experience and the high-level security clearances granted to them, which provide access to classified data on the federal budget, taxation, and government IT systems. Some view this as a potential national security risk, arguing that such access is typically reserved for experienced federal officials with established track records.
A report by Wired highlighted that Musk’s federal government takeover involves a group of young, inexperienced engineers aged between 19 to 24, some with connections to Musk and his associate Peter Thiel. These individuals hold critical roles and have gained access to sensitive data, raising concerns about the bypassing of standard security protocols and their lack of necessary expertise.
A High-Stakes Gamble
Supporters of the initiative argue that the infusion of young talent like Bobba brings fresh perspectives and innovative solutions to longstanding governmental inefficiencies. They believe that this bold approach could lead to significant advancements in how the government operates, leveraging cutting-edge technology to streamline processes and reduce costs.
However, the unprecedented nature of this move—entrusting critical government functions to individuals with limited experience—has led some to describe it as a “high-stakes gamble.” The success of DOGE will depend on the ability of these young engineers to navigate the complexities of federal operations and implement effective technological solutions.