Mark Cuban Aims to Outdo Elon Musk and Fill the DOGE-Sized Void

On March 10, 2025, Mark Cuban gives a speech during his induction into the SXSW Hall of Fame.

"Shark Tank" personality and businessman Mark Cuban has extensive experience in launching new enterprises. His upcoming endeavor might involve employing the staff members let go by Tesla. TSLA CEO Elon Musk’s Bureau of Government Effectiveness (BOGE).

Cuban has been examining proposals for new ventures submitted by both ex-employees and those currently working at the General Services Administration (GSA) and the White House. he told Politico His ultimate aim is to support some of these prospective firms and assist their employees in utilizing the skills they acquired from working as contractors for the federal government.

"I believe we can surpass Elon Musk himself because the individuals he brings in won't be aware of their own limitations," Cuban stated to Politico.

The initiative aims to engage ex-staffers from the U.S. Digital Service, who previously functioned as internal advisors to federal agencies concerning IT matters. This team was rebranded like when DOGE was mentioned under President Donald Trump’s executive order setting up Musk’s team.

In February, 21 employees stated they would resign Instead of assisting with cuts to DOGE federal expenditures, which could involve widespread job terminations, those individuals—who were formerly high-ranking personnel at major technology corporations such as Amazon— AMZN ) or Alphabet’s ( GOOGL Google cautioned that the individuals Musk had brought onboard were political ideologues without the required abilities to implement Musk’s plans. Associated Press reported .

Cuban would similarly recruit ex-employees from the 18F unit located inside the GSA, which was charged by modernizing and developing essential technology services for the government, encompassing outwardly facing platforms such as Login.gov along with guidelines for both federal and state agencies. This division was dissolved on March 1.

"A few individuals have a genuine opportunity to evolve into small enterprises that can capitalize on their skills," Cuban stated to Politico, commenting on certain employees.

Cuban sees his technology firm becoming lucrative, though the specifics of achieving profitability remain ambiguous. The extent to which federal agencies choose to contract out work to private businesses—and under what budget constraints—is crucial. However, sources indicate that the Trump administration has not demonstrated a desire to overhaul organizations like 18F or USDS, as reported by Politico.

18F has also experienced a tumultuous past when it comes to financial management. The division struggled millions of dollars short Based on its projected revenues for its initial three fiscal years, the organization did not generate any income during its first year of operations, as stated in a 2016 report by the GSA’s Inspector General.

Thomas Shedd, who previously worked as an engineer at Tesla and currently heads up Technology Transformation Services, informed his team that 18F "has never been entirely self-sustaining financially." according to FedScoop In the fiscal year 2024, the program fell short by $18 million and experienced a loss of $5 million in fiscal 2025.

"Even though the team was experiencing significant losses, 18F’s recently announced hourly rates positioned them at the upper limit of the technology consulting industry," Shedd stated.

Cuban stated to Politico that the upcoming business must produce income from both the private sector and federal funds. Additionally, according to a previous employee of 18F who spoke with Politico, it might need to depend on agreements at the state and local levels until a more favorable federal administration takes office.

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