Last month, Elon Musk made headlines by labeling the federal government’s actions as “utterly insane,” accusing it of distributing $100 billion to individuals without Social Security numbers, though he didn’t provide any supporting evidence for this claim.
Shortly after Musk’s remarks, Steve Davis, a key associate of his, took immediate action by contacting the Social Security Administration. Davis, advocating for one of Musk’s ambitious initiatives, the Department of Government Efficiency, strongly urged the agency’s leaders to allow a young engineer access to sensitive American data.
Tiffany Flick, a former Social Security official, described Davis’s request as “unprecedented” in her recent sworn statement related to a lawsuit filed by federal employees aiming to prevent access to this data. She noted Davis’s growing impatience as their engineer was eventually allowed to explore what he termed “the general myth of supposed widespread Social Security fraud.”
Assigning personnel to federal agencies is just one of the tasks Davis has undertaken for Musk. As Musk strategically attempts to reshape aspects of the U.S. government, Davis has been at the forefront, supporting his vision by preparing cost-cutting measures, reducing diversity programs, and engaging lawmakers. He even facilitated a government-wide email suggesting employees contemplate resignation.
These moves highlight Davis’s growing influence, effectively placing him in charge of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), according to those closely connected to the effort. This has left Amy Gleason, who served as the acting DOGE administrator during the Trump era, sometimes unaware of Davis’s decisions.
Davis’s rise to such a pivotal role isn’t hidden knowledge. For over two decades, he has closely followed Musk through various ventures, from SpaceX to the social media platform X, driven by a belief in Musk’s transformative vision for humankind, according to interviews with 22 associates and officials.
To Musk, Davis personifies the perfect employee, willing to tackle any challenge, regardless of his expertise in the subject, provided it aligns with Musk’s goals. Musk, impressed by Davis’s capacity to eliminate inefficiencies, likened him to a cancer treatment.
“Steve is like chemo,” Musk once remarked at a transition meeting. “A little chemo can save your life; a lot of chemo could kill you.”
Musk and Davis share a common interest in cost-saving measures. At SpaceX, Davis spearheaded affordable rocket-building innovations and managed layoffs at Twitter (now X). At DOGE, he orchestrates engineers and attorneys in pursuit of trimming $2 trillion from the federal budget, a promise made by Musk.
Davis’s allegiance to Musk is evident, going as far as having him and his partner, Nicole Hollander—tasked with reducing federal real estate costs—establish their operations on the General Services Administration’s sixth floor in Washington. This setup is secured by a full security detail, as noted by three agency employees.
Adam Green, a progressive organizer who knew Davis when they both lived in Washington a decade ago, reflected on how Davis has evolved from a “fun outside-the-box thinker” into a “blind servant” to Musk.
Neither Davis, Musk, Hollander, nor the White House responded to requests for comment.
Davis’s working relationship with Musk began in 2003 when Musk picked him from a Stanford aeronautics graduate program to join SpaceX. Quickly proving his value through innovative cost reductions, Davis became the 14th employee at SpaceX and developed more economical ways to manufacture rocket components.
His commitment to cost efficiency wasn’t without error. In 2007, by removing crucial components from SpaceX’s Falcon 1 rocket, Davis inadvertently contributed to a test flight’s failure, resulting in the rocket shutting down midair without reaching orbit.
By 2008, Davis had moved to Washington and later became SpaceX’s director of advanced projects, handling diverse tasks including securing Texas land for the future Starbase launch facility.
Beyond SpaceX, Davis pursued an economics Ph.D. and launched Mr. Yogato, a quirky frozen yogurt shop offering trivia-based discounts. He also helped create a Jewish lifestyle website, Gather the Jews, and joined the board of the Atlas Society, which champions Ayn Rand’s libertarian philosophies.
In 2018, Musk appointed Davis to head the Boring Company, which aims to ease urban congestion by constructing tunnels. During a presentation, Davis emphasized the lack of research and development in U.S. tunnel projects, suggesting innovation was key for the company.
The Boring Company managed to inaugurate a Las Vegas tunnel in 2021 but faced regulatory hurdles elsewhere. Frustrations led Musk to scold and threaten Davis with termination, according to three associates. The pressure took a toll on Davis, leading him to stress-induced behavior, such as pulling out his hair.
After Musk acquired Twitter in 2022, Davis concentrated on cost reduction strategies, reportedly aiming to save over $500 million. His dedication even led him to spend nights at Twitter’s San Francisco office with Hollander and their newborn.
Davis also orchestrated the installation of Musk’s private bathroom at Twitter, dismissing the need for construction permits. “We don’t have to follow the rules,” he reportedly said, as revealed in a 2023 lawsuit filed by former Twitter employees accusing the company and Musk of breaching their employment contracts.
Some staffers voiced their concerns about Davis’s drastic cost-cutting approaches to Linda Yaccarino, who became X’s CEO in 2023, urging her to intervene. Shortly thereafter, Davis parted ways with X.
During Musk’s support campaign for Trump in Pennsylvania last year, Davis coordinated efforts for a Musk-backed super PAC from nearby hotels. This included promoting a $47-a-head petition to rally Trump voters, demonstrating his frugal approach borrowed from Twitter’s cost-cutting strategies.
After Trump secured the presidency, Davis joined the transition team, conducting interviews for Musk’s efficiency commission and liaising with agencies employing engineers to evaluate potential talent for DOGE, according to three government officials. Musk even included Davis in pitches to prospective government recruits, an internal email disclosed.
Following Trump’s inauguration, Davis relentlessly pursued approval to email government employees en masse. His persistent efforts resulted in the “Fork in the Road” email offering resignations across government lines in January.
When media leaks about the resignation offer emerged, Davis admonished officials for failing to manage their staff and casting a shadow over Musk’s reputation.
Davis tirelessly champions Musk’s objectives in daily meetings with Trump’s advisors, highlighting diversity and inclusion programs for potential cuts and identifying individuals for removal from government boards.
Despite Davis’s abrasiveness sometimes causing friction with Trump’s team—particularly regarding DOGE’s attempts to place recruits in the Pentagon—he maintains focus on his mission.
Throughout his efforts, Davis has remained elusive from public scrutiny. The White House and Musk avoided mentioning him, and he abstained from being photographed. That changed recently when he spoke at the DOGE Caucus in the House of Representatives, alongside Musk, as captured in a photo shared by Representative Aaron Bean, marking a rare public appearance.
Kirsten Grind, Eric Schmitt, Jonathan Swan, and Maggie Haberman contributed to reporting, with research support from Susan C. Beachy.
