Gavin Kliger
Kliger’s dossier documents a private-sector software engineer who, with no documented prior government service, received simultaneous credentials at agencies spanning financial regulation, workforce administration, tax enforcement, foreign aid, and broadcasting — while retaining equity and employment ties to a company that competes for federal data-analytics contracts at those same agencies.
Gavin Kliger is a 25-year-old software engineer who, according to a review of public records and reporting, held concurrent Senior Adviser roles across at least eight federal agencies starting January 20, 2025 — OPM, CFPB, USAID, USDA, NIH, IRS, FTC, and Voice of America — while his OGE Form 278 disclosure listed his Databricks employment agreement as still current 1 2. According to ProPublica’s DOGE tracker, he was one of the most widely deployed DOGE figures by agency count 3. His financial disclosure shows Databricks vested stock units valued at $1 million–$5 million, a salary and bonus of $251,000, and additional equity holdings in Apple, Tesla, Alphabet, Robinhood Markets, and cryptocurrency positions totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars 2 4.
At the CFPB, ethics attorneys warned Kliger in writing that he held up to $715,000 in equities that bureau employees are legally prohibited from owning and that he could not participate in agency actions affecting those holdings. Days later he managed the reduction-in-force that terminated approximately 1,400 of the agency’s 1,700 staff. A former CFPB general counsel characterized the episode as a likely violation of the federal criminal conflict-of-interest statute, 18 U.S.C. § 208 5 6. According to subsequent reporting, Kliger departed CFPB on May 8, 2025 3.
Background and Deployment
Kliger attended UC Berkeley but left without completing a degree. His FEC record shows a single $94 WinRed donation in July 2024 from Dove Canyon, California, listing his employer as Brainstorm — his only documented political contribution before the DOGE deployment 1. He joined Databricks as a Senior Software Engineer in May 2020 and was still listed under that employment agreement on his OGE disclosure filed after taking government roles 2.
On January 20, 2025, Kliger was formally appointed Senior Advisor to the Director for Technology and Delivery at OPM. According to ProPublica’s DOGE tracker, he was simultaneously detailed to USDA, CFPB, USAID, and sought access at the IRS 1. Records show he was among the most widely deployed DOGE figures by number of concurrent agency placements 3.
Financial Disclosures and Conflicts of Interest
Kliger’s OGE Form 278 disclosure — document ID 1987 in the ProPublica database — is the primary financial record of his holdings at the time of government service. The disclosure shows Databricks RSUs valued at $1 million–$5 million and a salary and bonus of $251,000, with the employment agreement listed as Present (May 2020–Present), leaving open whether a formal separation from Databricks occurred before or during his federal service 2.
Beyond Databricks, the disclosure itemizes equity positions in companies regulated by or contracting with the agencies where Kliger served: Tesla ($50K–$100K), Apple ($100K–$250K), Alphabet ($50K–$100K), Robinhood Markets ($50K–$100K), and cryptocurrency assets including Bitcoin ($100K–$250K via Robinhood) and Solana ($1K–$15K) 4. Additional holdings included Microsoft ($50K–$100K) and Arm Holdings ($15K–$50K) 2.
The CFPB placement raised a distinct conflict under that agency’s ethics rules, which prohibit employees from holding equity in firms the bureau regulates. Ethics attorneys warned Kliger in writing that holdings valued up to $715,000 in CFPB-regulated companies barred him from participating in agency actions affecting those companies 5. The sequence of events that followed — his role in the subsequent reduction-in-force despite that warning — is detailed in the CFPB section below 6.
CFPB Reduction-in-Force
Kliger entered USAID alongside Jeremy Lewin and Pete Marocco as part of the initial DOGE deployment wave 6. At the CFPB, reporting described a reduction-in-force that Kliger personally managed, cutting approximately 1,400 of 1,700 employees — roughly 90 percent of the workforce — in a single action. As noted above, CFPB ethics attorneys had warned him days earlier that his holdings disqualified him from such actions. A former CFPB general counsel characterized the sequence as a likely violation of 18 U.S.C. § 208, the federal criminal conflict-of-interest statute 5.
According to Bloomberg Law, Kliger screamed at CFPB staff during the 36-hour layoff process 3. The Revolving Door Project subsequently profiled him as a case study in the DOGE conflict-of-interest pattern, citing the combination of regulated-company holdings, written ethics warnings, and participation in consequential agency actions 6. According to Bloomberg Law, Kliger departed CFPB on May 8, 2025 3.
OPM and Federal Data System Access
As Senior Advisor to the OPM Director, Kliger was positioned at the agency that controls personnel records for the entire federal workforce — employment histories, SF-86 security clearance questionnaires, and biometric data. According to ProPublica’s reporting, his placement at OPM coincided with that of other technology-sector appointees at the agency’s leadership level 1.
ProPublica’s tracking data also indicates that Kliger sought access to IRS systems while simultaneously holding OPM, USDA, and CFPB positions. Records show that congressional inquiries and media reporting subsequently cited his concurrent agency placements in the broader debate over DOGE data access practices 1.
Gavin Kliger
All Connections
1 total
All Connections
1 totalDOGE operative at USAID and CFPB; sent lockout email to USAID employees
All Findings
6 total
All Findings
6 totalfinancial (3)
Gavin Kliger, 25-year-old software engineer deployed by DOGE to CFPB, owned up to 715000 in stocks of companies regulated by the agency. CFPB ethics attorneys warned him not to take actions that could boost his stock values. Despite warning, Kliger helped oversee CFPB staff layoffs. White House defended his involvement. Kliger also entered USAID with Jeremy Lewin and Pete Marocco. Revolving Door Project profiled him as case study of DOGE conflict pattern.
OPM Senior Tech Advisor holds $1M-5M in Databricks stock plus Bitcoin and Tesla while managing fed IT
Gavin Kliger, Senior Advisor to the Director for Technology and Delivery at OPM (appointed 1/20/2025), disclosed Databricks vested stock units valued at $1M-5M, Databricks salary/bonus of $251K, and Databricks employment agreement. He was a Senior Software Engineer at Databricks from 5/2020-Present and interned at Twitter. He also holds Bitcoin (BTC) $100K-250K via Robinhood, Solana (SOL) $1K-15K, Tesla Inc (TSLA) $50K-100K, Apple $100K-250K, Microsoft $50K-100K, Alphabet $50K-100K, Robinhood Markets $50K-100K, and Arm Holdings $15K-50K. As OPM tech advisor, he influences federal technology procurement decisions where Databricks competes for government data analytics contracts.
OPM tech advisor holds Robinhood Markets stock while Robinhood seeks expanded financial services regulation
Kliger disclosed Robinhood Markets Inc Class A Common Stock (HOOD) valued at $50K-100K, alongside his Bitcoin and Solana holdings on the Robinhood platform. As OPM Senior Advisor for Technology and Delivery, Kliger influences federal technology systems. Robinhood has been expanding into government-adjacent financial services and retirement products. His Databricks employment remains listed as Present (5/2020-Present), raising questions about whether he has formally separated from Databricks or retains some relationship while serving at OPM.
legal (1)
DOGE aide held up to K in stocks prohibited by ethics laws while overseeing CFPB layoffs
Gavin Kliger, 25, disclosed investments of up to ,000 in four companies the CFPB can regulate. He held up to ,000 in stocks that bureau employees are prohibited from owning. Ethics attorneys at CFPB warned Kliger he could not hold these stocks and participate in major agency actions, yet days later he helped oversee layoffs of nearly 90% of CFPB staff. Former general counsel said this looks like a 'pretty clear-cut violation' of federal criminal conflict-of-interest statute.
intelligence (1)
DOGE Personnel: Kyle Kliger roster entry is likely data error — Gavin Kliger (not Kyle) is the CFPB/OPM operative
The investigation roster lists 'Kyle Kliger' as a DOGE operative at CFPB. No evidence exists for a person named Kyle Kliger in DOGE. The actual operative is Gavin Kliger (age 25), a software engineer from Databricks AI background deployed to 8+ agencies: OPM (senior tech advisor), CFPB, USDA, USAID, NIH, IRS, FTC, VOA. At CFPB: led mass layoffs of ~1,400 of 1,700 employees, held prohibited stocks worth up to $715K (Apple, Tesla, crypto) while overseeing cuts. Screamed at staff during 36-hour layoff marathon. Ethics attorneys warned him not to participate in actions benefiting his holdings — he did anyway. Left CFPB May 8, 2025. The original question about whether Kyle is Gavin's brother has no supporting evidence. There is only one Kliger in DOGE: Gavin Kliger.
identity (1)
DOGE operative: Gavin Kliger — Databricks AI/tech background, assigned as Senior Adviser across 8+ agencies: USAID, OPM, CFPB, NIH, IRS, FTC, USDA, VOA. One of most widely deployed DOGE operatives. Conflict: tech background accessing and potentially restructuring agencies overseeing AI regulation (FTC) and financial regulation (CFPB, IRS). FEC: single 94 dollar WinRed donation Jul 2024 from Dove Canyon, CA (employer: Brainstorm).