I don't think you understand them, either, if you are willing to entrust your Medicare benefits to a bunch of young, inexperienced, and self-deluded incels. I honestly think you feel threatened by these young geniuses. Could that be the case? I think it could.
What these people are doing is heroic. Here are the ones who have been identified. These people seem entirely adequate for the tasks at hand. I'm sure Musk didn't arbitrarily choose the worst employees he had for this task.
Who Are the People Helping Musk with DOGE?
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is not an official federal department but an advisory body tasked with cutting government spending and improving efficiency, per Trump’s executive order on January 20, 2025. Musk has assembled a team of staffers and advisors to execute this mission. While the full roster isn’t publicly detailed as of now, several key figures have been identified through reporting by outlets like TechCrunch, WIRED, and ProPublica. Below is a rundown of notable individuals, their origins, ages, and backgrounds.
Named Individuals (courtesy AI)
Luke Farritor
Age: 23 (born around 2001-2002, based on 2025 reporting).
Origin: Nebraska, USA.
Background: A former University of Nebraska-Lincoln student, Farritor gained recognition for decoding ancient Roman scrolls using AI, winning a $700,000 prize in the Vesuvius Challenge. He was part of the 2024 Thiel Fellowship, funded by Peter Thiel, a Musk ally. Farritor interned at Musk’s Starlink in mid-2022 and worked at SpaceX from May 2022 to July 2023 on mission-critical projects for Starship Flights 1 and 2. He also worked with Nat Friedman and Daniel Gross on AI ventures. Now a DOGE staffer, he’s involved in tech-focused efficiency efforts.
Role: Unspecified staffer, likely leveraging his engineering and AI expertise.
Gautier “Cole” Killian
Age: Estimated early 20s (exact birth year unclear, but grouped with 19-24-year-olds in WIRED reporting).
Origin: Not explicitly stated, but U.S.-based.
Background: Described as a “volunteer” and “federal detailee” at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) since February 2025. Little public detail exists on his prior experience, suggesting he’s a newer entrant to Musk’s orbit, possibly recruited for technical skills. His designation as a detailee implies temporary assignment from another agency or role.
Role: Volunteer staffer, possibly aiding in agency-specific tech or data tasks.
Ethan Shaotran
Age: Around 21-22 (a Harvard senior in September 2024, implying a birth year of 2002-2003).
Origin: U.S.-based, likely California or Massachusetts (Harvard connection).
Background: A computer science student at Harvard, Shaotran founded Energize AI, an OpenAI-backed startup, receiving a $100,000 grant to build a scheduling assistant called Spark. He was a runner-up in a hackathon hosted by Musk’s xAI, linking him to Musk’s ecosystem. His focus on AI aligns with DOGE’s tech modernization goals.
Role: DOGE engineer, likely contributing AI or software expertise.
Akash Bobba
Age: Estimated 19-24 (grouped in WIRED’s age range, exact age unclear).
Origin: U.S.-based, specifics unknown.
Background: Limited public info exists, but he’s identified as an engineer with ties to Musk’s companies (e.g., SpaceX or Tesla). His role suggests technical skills, possibly in software or systems engineering.
Role: DOGE engineer, part of the tech-focused team.
Edward Coristine
Age: Estimated 19-24 (per WIRED’s range).
Origin: U.S.-based, specifics unknown.
Background: Another young engineer with Musk connections, likely from his companies or Thiel’s network (e.g., Palantir). Details are sparse, but his inclusion points to a tech background.
Role: DOGE engineer, assisting in infrastructure or software tasks.
Gavin Kliger
Age: Estimated 19-24 (per WIRED’s range).
Origin: U.S.-based, specifics unknown.
Background: Similar to others, he’s a young engineer with probable ties to Musk’s ventures or Silicon Valley. His expertise is likely technical, fitting DOGE’s mission.
Role: DOGE engineer, supporting efficiency initiatives.
Marko Elez
Age: 25 (reported by WIRED in February 2025).
Origin: U.S.-based, possibly California (SpaceX connection).
Background: A former SpaceX employee, Elez reportedly holds administrator access to Treasury Department IT systems handling federal payments. His experience at SpaceX suggests advanced engineering or systems skills, making him a key player in financial tech oversight.
Role: Senior technical role, managing payment systems (disputed by the Trump administration).
Steve Davis
Age: Early 40s (born 1980-1981, based on college graduation around 2002).
Origin: South Africa (like Musk), later U.S.-based.
Background: A longtime Musk ally, Davis worked at SpaceX (employee #6) and led The Boring Company. He joined Musk’s Twitter transition team in 2022, notably living at headquarters with his partner Nicole Hollander and their infant during the takeover. He’s now aiding DOGE’s workforce reduction efforts, drawing on his operational experience.
Role: Senior advisor, focusing on headcount cuts.
Amanda Scales
Age: Likely 30s (exact age unclear, but senior to the younger cohort).
Origin: U.S.-based, possibly California (xAI connection).
Background: Formerly with Musk’s xAI, Scales is now chief of staff at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the government’s HR arm. Her experience in Musk’s AI ventures suggests management and tech skills.
Role: Chief of staff at OPM, overseeing personnel changes.
Riccardo Biasini
Age: Likely 30s (exact age unclear, but senior experience at Tesla/Boring Company).
Origin: U.S.-based, possibly California (Musk company ties).
Background: Worked at Tesla and The Boring Company, now a senior advisor at OPM. He was the contact for a new government-wide email system, indicating IT and administrative expertise.
Role: Senior advisor at OPM, managing tech and personnel transitions.
Tom Krause
Age: Likely 40s-50s (CEO experience suggests maturity).
Origin: U.S.-based, Silicon Valley.
Background: CEO of Cloud Software Group, Krause was appointed in February 2025 to oversee the Treasury’s payment systems, which process trillions annually. His corporate leadership contrasts with the younger engineers.
Role: Head of Treasury payment systems, a senior DOGE-aligned position.
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