According to former DOGE staffer Sahil Lavingia, Steve Davis appeared to coordinate much of the group’s work across federal agencies. Lavingia also said Davis, Anthony Armstrong, and Baris Akis seemed to be in charge at a late-March 2025 meeting with Elon Musk. Those are Lavingia’s observations, not an official org chart or a legal finding about who held authority.
What Lavingia said about DOGE’s day-to-day leadership
In an interview published May 29, 2025, WIRED’s Vittoria Elliott reported on Lavingia’s account of a 55-day stint with DOGE, during which he said he was assigned to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Lavingia said Davis contacted DOGE members across agencies and sent priorities to team leads. He described Davis as the person with the broadest view of the operation: “Steven was the only person who was across everything,” Lavingia told WIRED.
At the VA, Lavingia said, Davis told the team to prioritize reviewing contracts for cancellation. Lavingia recalled that Davis checked on his work periodically but rarely responded to his updates. That account suggests influence over priorities and coordination; it does not by itself establish Davis’s formal title or decision-making powers.
Who appeared to be in charge around Musk?
Lavingia described a late-March meeting with Musk that he called an “E meeting.” He recalled seeing Davis, Armstrong, and Akis there, and said workers seemed focused on tasks Davis had assigned. Lavingia characterized Davis’s role around Musk this way: “Steven is basically like a chief of staff or body man when Elon was there.” That is Lavingia’s description, not an official position.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →#1 Best Overall
Operational influence was not the same as formal authority
Lavingia’s account draws a distinction between DOGE’s practical influence and the authority to make agency decisions. In a blog post quoted by WIRED, he wrote: “In reality, DOGE had no direct authority. The real decisions came from the agency heads appointed by President Trump, who were wise to let DOGE act as the ‘fall guy’ for unpopular decisions.” This is Lavingia’s interpretation of how decisions worked, not a definitive legal analysis of DOGE’s powers or agency heads’ responsibilities.
That distinction matters when reading claims about who was “in charge.” A person may set priorities, coordinate staff, or influence an agency without having the formal power to approve or carry out a decision. WIRED’s account reports Lavingia’s experience; it does not independently settle the legal authority behind every action he described.
What the account says about communication and coordination
Lavingia described DOGE operations as disorganized, with little information sharing between teams. He said that, in his experience, DOGE correspondence generally took place through Signal. WIRED noted concerns raised by experts and lawmakers that using Signal for official business could conflict with government recordkeeping requirements. The article does not establish that every message was unpreserved or resolve the legal status of specific communications.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the story does—and does not—establish
- It reports one former staffer’s experience. The central account is Lavingia’s recollection of his 55 days with DOGE, alongside contextual reporting by WIRED.
- It does not provide an official leadership chart. The descriptions of Davis, Armstrong, and Akis as appearing to be in charge are Lavingia’s impressions.
- It is a dated snapshot. The article covers events during Lavingia’s 2025 stint and was published May 29, 2025. It cannot establish who leads or works with DOGE now, or whether the operation later changed.
WIRED reported that Musk, Davis, Hollander, and Akis did not respond to its requests for comment. The story also said Musk and Davis were special government employees and described that category as allowing service for up to 130 days. That figure is reported in the article; this account does not independently verify the underlying legal rule.
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minutePC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Quick Recap
Best Value
- ✅ COVERED IN GOLD – Our physical Dogecoin coin is made from iron which is covered with 24-carat gold.
- ✅ UNIQUE COLLECTOR’S ITEM – Expand your coin collection with our gold plated Dogecoin coin.
- ✅ DURABLE PROTECTIVE CASE – The high quality coin is protected by a robust hardplastic-case.
- ✅ COOL GIFT IDEA – The ideal gift for family, relatives or friends.
- ✅ DETAILED ENGRAVINGS – The surface of the Dogecoin coin has fine engravings.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
