Elon Musk has officially put the rumors to rest: the U.S. government is not adopting Dogecoin. This comes after internet buzz linking the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to the popular meme coin.

Speaking at a town hall in Green Bay, Musk said the new department and the cryptocurrency have no connection, despite sharing the same name. “There are no plans for the government to use Dogecoin, as far as I know,” Musk said. “DOGE is just about making government work better.”

The confusion started back in February 2025 when the DOGE department’s official website briefly showed Dogecoin’s iconic Shiba Inu mascot. That one image was enough to spark speculation—and send DOGE’s price up 14%. But Musk quickly clarified: “We’re just trying to make the government 15% more efficient.”

According to Musk, the department’s name actually came from a community poll. While the original title was supposed to be “Government Efficiency Commission,” the internet preferred “DOGE”—and Musk ran with it.

Despite the fun branding, Musk stressed that Dogecoin has no role in the project. 

Still, after his clarification, Dogecoin dropped 3.2%, falling to $0.16.

Musk’s role in the department is somewhat unclear. While Trump calls him the leader, the White House says he’s just a senior advisor with no formal power—and he’s not getting paid. The DOGE department, launched in late 2024, aims to streamline government, cut costs, and shrink federal agencies—moves that have stirred both support and legal challenges