DOGE’s Controversial Office Culture: IKEA Beds and Secret Sleeping Spaces Among Federal Staff | World News

DOGE appointees are pushing plans to dismantle the federal workforce, inspired by Elon Musk’s technique of moving fast and breaking things working relentlessly and in some cases, even sleeping at the office.
DOGE staffers reportedly converted at least four rooms on the sixth floor into makeshift sleeping spaces, at the general services administration’s (GSA) headquarters in downtown Washington. Two longtime GSA employees informed that these bedrooms are equipped with IKEA beds, lamps, and dressers, located within a high-security area alongside conference spaces, and are only accessible to those with special clearance.
The agency is even considering spending $25,000 to install a washer and dryer on the same floor, as per a 25 February invoice seen by POLITICO. The building also features a child’s play area, complete with stuffed animals and toys.
“There are definitely people sleeping there,” said one GSA staffer.
What remains unclear is how frequently these rooms are being used and for how long.
Musk’s influence on DOGE culture
Elon Musk has long been vocal about his belief in working extreme hours, often sleeping at his own offices and factories. The billionaire said he had spent three years living in Tesla’s California and Nevada factories, crashing on couches and under his desk to motivate staff. Employees at X (formerly Twitter) have also been encouraged to sleep at work.
At present, Musk, who is also serving as a top adviser to Donald Trump, is reportedly spending much of his time at the Eisenhower Executive office building, just steps from the White House.
A GSA spokesperson defended the agency’s work culture, stating that employees “are working incredibly hard and long hours to help reduce the federal deficit and ensure an effective government.”
“Any purchases the agency has made followed all appropriate laws and regulations,” the spokesperson added. “In accordance with the Sleeping in Federal Buildings bulletin, specific instances of an employee sleeping at the 1800F building were expressly authorized by an agency official.”
Ethical concerns
Legal experts say the situation is unpleasant. A 2019 GSA bulletin explicitly prohibits sleeping in agency offices, except when “expressly authorized by an agency official.”
Donald Sherman, executive director of citizens for responsibility and ethics in Washington, argued that the rule only allows overnight stays in cases of emergency, imminent danger, or if directly ordered by a supervisor.
“I’ve run the public affairs offices of five different Cabinet departments or agencies under four different presidents, two Republicans and two Democrats. I have never heard of any such thing. I can’t even imagine what the purpose is, other than to terrorize the civilian workforce,” Sherman said. “That doesn’t make sense.”
Jeff Nesbit, a longtime federal staffer under multiple Republican and Democratic administrations, found the whole situation baffling.
“It’s exceedingly odd,” he said. “I’ve run the public affairs offices of five different Cabinet departments or agencies under four different presidents, two Republicans and two Democrats. I have never heard of any such thing. I can’t even imagine what the purpose is, other than to terrorize the civilian workforce.”
The news has also alarmed members of Congress. Democratic Representative Suhas Subramanyam, a member of the house oversight committee, said he first heard about DOGE staffers sleeping in federal buildings from a concerned constituent at a town hall meeting in Virginia.
“One of Musk’s top lieutenants and his wife and young child have shacked up on the 6th floor of our agency and they are living there,” said an unidentified source. “The hallway has been blocked off with a special access list of people who can’t get back here.”
Democratic Representative Suhas Subramanyam, member of the House Oversight Committee, has also called for increased transparency around DOGE, raising the issue at an Oversight hearing and on the House floor. He even filmed a TikTok video attempting to enter a federal building carrying a pillow and blanket, though he failed.
“This is the problem with DOGE,” he said. “There’s very little transparency and accountability, and they kind of just do whatever they want without needing to even identify themselves, much less explain why they’re doing things, like staying in federal buildings.”