Yes, Musk reposted meme calling Americans who use federal programs the 'Parasite Class'

From the beginning, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which U.S. President Donald Trump officially established on his first day in office, has proven itself to be a polarizing presence in Washington, D.C. Above all, its origins, leadership and role in the Trump administration have confused our readers.

Questions such as, how exactly has DOGE influenced the firing of reportedly thousands of federal workers, and who exactly is in charge (tech billionaire Elon Musk at least serves as the public face), remain unanswered.

Below, we break down a sampling of claims – such as the whether DOGE dismantled USAID, whether DOGE employees make taxpayer-funded six-figure salaries and whether DOGE canceled payments in the millions for business loans to children, alpaca farms in Peru and former U.S. President Barack Obama.