Report claims that an ally of Elon Musk attempted to stage a coup at DOGE

By

July 17, 2025

Former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) head Elon Musk famously left Washington earlier this year before engaging in a public feud with President Donald Trump.

Yet while one Musk may have departed, a new report claims that one of Musk's allies attempted to stage a coup at the department he founded.

Sources say Steve Davis chaired a meeting despite being let go

According to Politico, the White House Presidential Personnel Office informed DOGE staff members in June that Steve Davis was no longer a government employee.

However, Politico cited multiple unnamed figures who indicated that Davis nevertheless attempted to run DOGE, such as when he allegedly chaired a meeting on the sixth floor of the General Services Administration (GSA) one week after the administration had announced his departure.

DOGE lead Steve Davis did not go quietly https://t.co/cQZdIBzYaB

— POLITICO (@politico) July 14, 2025

"He was at the GSA running the meeting like it was business as usual," one person familiar with the events told Politico.

DOGE special counsel confirmed that Davis was no longer a government employee

Another person explained that the situation left staff members in an awkward position, saying, "A lot of people got uncomfortable."

"So many people received that message from the White House and I think that bothered them, that Steve was continuing to tell everybody that everything is normal and to act like he is still involved in running the show," the source noted.

Politico recounted how some DOGE employees reacted by conferring with Austin Raynor, who serves as the department's special counsel.

After Raynor confirmed that Davis was no longer a government employee, Davis is said to have dispatched GSA Acting Administrator Stephen Ehikian, Josh Gruenbaum, and Anthony Armstrong to question people about their authority.

White House spokesman denies that Davis' attempted takeover took place

What's more, Davis is also accused of having set up Ehikian, Gruenbaum, and Armstrong to serve as DOGE's new leaders.

"They claimed authority from [Vice President] JD Vance and [chief of staff] Susie Wiles but actually did not and do not have it — they were bluffing," the second source said.

Yet as Politico pointed out, those claims have been disputed by White House spokesman Harrison Fields, who also touted the progress that DOGE has made.

"Under the President’s leadership, every agency and department is executing this mission seamlessly and, as a result, has yielded more than $170 billion in savings for the American people," he said in a statement.