DOGE is dead. Following a statement from OPM Director Scott Kupor that the agency “doesn’t exist”, we analyse how Musk’s “chainsaw” approach failed to survive Washington.

If T.S. Eliot were covering the Trump administration, he might note that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) ended not with a bang, but with a bureaucrat from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) politely telling a reporter, “That doesn’t exist.”

Today, November 24, 2025, marks the official, unceremonious end of the most explosive experiment in modern governance. Eight months ahead of its July 2026 deadline, the agency that promised to “delete the mountain” of federal bureaucracy has been quietly dissolved. OPM Director Scott Kupor confirmed the news this morning, stating the department is no longer a “centralised entity.”

It is a fittingly chaotic funeral for a project that was never built to last. DOGE wasn’t an agency; it was a shock therapy stunt that mistook startup velocity for sovereign governance. And as of today, the “Deep State” didn’t just survive the disruption—it absorbed it.

The Chainsaw vs. The Scalpel

In January 2025, Elon Musk stood on a stage brandishing a literal chainsaw, promising to slice through the red tape of Washington. It was great television. It was terrible management.

The fundamental flaw of DOGE was the belief that the U.S. government operates like a bloatware-ridden tech company. Musk and his co-commissioner Vivek Ramaswamy applied the “move fast and break things” philosophy to federal statutes that require public comment periods and congressional oversight.

For a few months, it looked like it was working. The unverified claims of “billions saved” circulated on X (formerly Twitter) daily. But you cannot “bug fix” a federal budget. When the “chainsaw” met the rigid wall of administrative law, the blade didn’t cut—it shattered. The fact that the agency is being absorbed by the OPM—the very heart of the federal HR bureaucracy—is the ultimate irony. The disruptors have been filed away, likely in triplicate.

The Musk Exodus: A Zombie Agency Since May

Let’s be honest: DOGE didn’t die today. It died in May 2025.

The moment Elon Musk boarded his jet back to Texas following the public meltdown over President Trump’s budget bill, the soul of the project evaporated. The reported Trump-Musk feud over the “Big, Beautiful Bill”—which Musk criticized as a debt bomb—severed the agency’s political lifeline.

For the last six months, DOGE has been a “zombie agency,” staffed by true believers with no captain. While the headlines today focus on the official disbanding, the reality is that Washington’s immune system rejected the organ transplant half a year ago. The remaining staff, once heralded as revolutionaries, are now quietly updating their LinkedIns or engaging in the most bureaucratic act of all: transferring to other departments.

The Human Cost of “Efficiency”

While we analyze the political theatre, we cannot ignore the wreckage left in the wake of this experiment. Reports indicate over 200,000 federal workers have been displaced, either through the aggressive layoffs of early 2025 or the “voluntary” buyouts that followed.

These weren’t just “wasteful” line items; they were safety inspectors, grant administrators, and veteran civil servants. The federal workforce cuts impact will be felt for years, not in money saved, but in phones that go unanswered at the VA and permits that sit in limbo at the EPA.

Conclusion: The System Always Wins

The absorption of DOGE functions into the OPM and the transfer of high-profile staff like Joe Gebbia to the new “National Design Studio” proves a timeless Washington truth: The bureaucracy is fluid. You can punch it, scream at it, and even slash it with a chainsaw, but it eventually reforms around the fist.

Musk’s agency is gone. The Department of Government Efficiency news cycle is over. But the regulations, the statutes, and the OPM remain. In the battle between Silicon Valley accelerationism and D.C. incrementalism, the tortoise just beat the hare. Again.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why was DOGE disbanded ahead of schedule?

Officially, the administration claims the work is done and functions are being “institutionalized” into the OPM. However, analysts point to the departure of Elon Musk in May 2025 and rising political friction over the aggressive nature of the cuts as the primary drivers for the early closure.

Did DOGE actually save money?

It is disputed. While the agency claimed to identify hundreds of billions in savings, OPM Director Scott Kupor and other officials have admitted that “detailed public accounting” was never fully verified. The long-term costs of severance packages and rehiring contractors may offset initial savings.

What happens to DOGE employees now?

Many have been let go. However, select high-level staff have been reassigned. For example, Joe Gebbia has reportedly moved to the “National Design Studio,” and others have taken roles at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

If you are reading this from the floor of Terminal 4 near the American Airlines check-in, I’m sorry. If you are reading this from the comfort of your couch, stay there.

Today, November 23, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) isn’t just busy; it is a kinetic experiment in human density. Early reports and viral social media metrics are tossing around a staggering figure: a 500% increase in passenger volume. While the statisticians will eventually smooth that number out against year-over-year averages, the feeling on the ground is undeniable.

We aren’t just seeing a holiday rush. We are witnessing a “perfect storm” of logistics, psychology, and policy collision.

The “Why”: Anatomy of a Super-Surge

To understand why the 500% figure feels real, you have to look at the calendar. We are sandwiched between two massive pressure points.

1. The Post-Shutdown Rebound: We are barely ten days out from the end of the 43-day government shutdown. For over a month, flight restrictions and FAA staffing shortages throttled capacity. Today represents the breaking of that dam. The “500%” isn’t just normal traffic; it’s the release of six weeks of pent-up business and leisure travel that was artificially suppressed until mid-November.
2. Thanksgiving Proximity: It is the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Historically, this is a “yellow alert” day, ramping up to the “red alert” of Wednesday. But combined with the post-shutdown floodgates, today has effectively become the busiest travel day of the decade.
3. The Infrastructure Gap: Construction on the Central Terminal Area curbside improvement just began. This means lanes are closed exactly when volume is quintupling.

The Reality Check: A Terminal-by-Terminal Breakdown

The raw numbers (82 million Americans traveling this week) are abstract. The reality at LAX today is visceral.

• The Loop (World Way): It is currently a parking lot. The “horseshoe” design of LAX, finalized in an era when a 500% surge was mathematically impossible, is failing. Ride-shares are cancelling en masse because they simply cannot enter the central terminal area without losing an hour of revenue.
• TSA Checkpoints: This is where the “500% surge” hits hardest. With TSA staffing still restabilizing post-shutdown, PreCheck lines are bleeding into general boarding. The unspoken social contract of the airport queue is fraying.
• The Lounge Economy: Even the sanctuaries are overrun. The Delta Sky Club and the Star Alliance Lounge are reportedly operating “one-in, one-out” policies. When you can’t even buy your way out of the crowd, you know the system is saturated.

The Verdict: Is This the New Normal?

Is the “500% increase” a fluke or a forecast?

My verdict is that this is a warning shot. The aviation industry has been celebrating the “return to travel” since 2022, but today proves we have returned with a vengeance that our infrastructure cannot handle. We are trying to pour a gallon of water into a shot glass.

If you are traveling today, you are not a passenger; you are a participant in a logistical stress test. The infrastructure is crumbling not under neglect, but under sheer, unpredicted demand. The “Revenge Travel” narrative was supposed to end last year; instead, it has mutated into “Habitual Travel,” where flyers are willing to endure almost any level of friction to move.

Survival Guide: Navigating the Surge

If you must fly out of LAX in the next 24 hours, standard advice no longer applies.

• Abandon the Loop: Do not get dropped off at your terminal. It is a trap. Get dropped off at the LAX-it lot or a nearby hotel (like the Hyatt Regency) and walk. The 15-minute walk will save you 45 minutes of gridlock.
• Digital Sentry: Watch your flight status like a hawk. With this volume, one delayed inbound aircraft creates a domino effect that will wipe out the entire evening board.
• Pack Patience (and Snacks): The food court lines are currently longer than the security lines. If you didn’t bring food, you are fasting.

The bottom line: The 500% surge is real in impact, if not in exactitude. Today, LAX is not an airport; it is a city under siege. Proceed with caution, and if you can, maybe wait until Tuesday.

Cryptocurrency Bitcoin faces sharp declines, with BTC-USD sliding amid fears of a crypto crash and investor sentiment turning cautious.

The cryptocurrency market is once again in turmoil, with Bitcoin (BTC) leading a sharp downturn that has rattled investors worldwide. As headlines ask “why is crypto crashing?” the Fear and Greed Index has plunged to levels not seen since the pandemic-era meltdown, underscoring the depth of anxiety across the sector. With BTC price USD slipping below key support levels, traders are questioning whether this marks a temporary correction or the start of a deeper bear cycle.

Fear and Greed Index Analysis

The Fear and Greed Index, a widely followed sentiment gauge, has dropped to 10 — extreme fear. This collapse reflects widespread panic selling, fueled by macroeconomic uncertainty, hawkish Federal Reserve signals, and rising Treasury yields. Historically, such extreme readings have coincided with heightened volatility and, in some cases, buying opportunities for long-term holders. Yet, for many retail investors, the index’s plunge is a stark reminder of crypto’s inherent risks.

Bitcoin Price Movements (BTC USD)

In recent sessions, BTC USD has fallen sharply, dipping below $86,000 before attempting to stabilize near $91,000–$96,000. The sell-off wiped out nearly $0.19 trillion in market value within 24 hours, with altcoins like Ethereum and Solana also suffering steep losses. Liquidations across leveraged positions exceeded $1 billion, amplifying the downward spiral.

Why Is Crypto Crashing?

Several factors explain why crypto is crashing:

• Macroeconomic pressures: Rising bond yields and Fed tightening have reduced appetite for risk assets.
• Regulatory uncertainty: Ongoing debates around crypto oversight in major markets have unsettled investors.
• Market structure: Heavy leverage and speculative trading magnify downturns, leading to cascading liquidations.
• Broader sentiment: With the stock market today also under pressure, correlations between equities and crypto have intensified, dragging digital assets lower.

Expert and Market Commentary

Analysts note that while short-term sentiment is bleak, long-term accumulation continues. Institutional players are quietly buying dips, betting on Bitcoin’s resilience as a store of value. However, retail investors remain cautious, with bitcoin news dominated by headlines about collapsing portfolios and vanishing trillions in market capitalisation.

Broader Market Context

The crypto crash has unfolded alongside turbulence in global equities. The stock market today reflects similar risk-off behaviour, with investors shifting toward safe-haven assets. This correlation highlights how the cryptocurrency bitcoin is increasingly tied to broader financial conditions, challenging the narrative of Bitcoin as a purely independent hedge.

Outlook: Bitcoin’s Path Ahead

Despite the current downturn, history suggests that extreme fear often precedes recovery. If BTC price USD can stabilise above key support levels, confidence may return. Yet, persistent macro headwinds mean volatility will remain elevated. For now, the Fear and Greed Index serves as both a warning and a potential contrarian signal: while many ask “why is bitcoin dropping?”, seasoned investors see opportunity in crisis.