Elon Musk’s New ‘Department’ Seeks ‘Super High-IQ’ Staff For Unpaid Jobs

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, leaders of the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), have begun recruiting “super high-IQ small-government revolutionaries” for unpaid roles. The initiative, aimed at slashing government spending, announced its search for candidates via a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, highlighting the demanding nature of the jobs.

“We need revolutionaries willing to work 80+ hours a week on unglamorous cost-cutting,” DOGE stated. Applicants must direct message their CVs for Musk and Ramaswamy to personally review the top 1%. Musk clarified that the roles would be uncompensated, stating they are “tedious, enemy-making,” but vital to “greatly help America.”

The commission was recently appointed by President-elect Donald Trump to advise on cutting federal spending, eliminating regulations, and restructuring agencies. Trump has set a deadline of July 4, 2026, for the group to deliver its proposals. Both Musk and Ramaswamy advocate for sweeping reductions, including mass layoffs and deep program cuts.

Musk, who heads SpaceX a company with $3.8 billion in federal contracts this year has not clarified if such contracts would face cuts. He also criticized nonprofit organizations receiving federal grants, calling them “an illegal arm of the government.”

DOGE, humorously named after the popular internet meme and cryptocurrency, is not an official federal entity. Its recognition depends on Congress passing legislation to formalize its existence. Nonetheless, its call for full-time staff has sparked significant interest, with thousands engaging online.

The DOGE account emphasized its focus on action over ideas, stating, “We don’t need more part-time idea generators.” While the authenticity of the account is backed by Musk’s reposts, the identity of the author remains unclear. As Musk and Ramaswamy press forward, the controversial nature of unpaid roles for such high-stakes work continues to generate debate.