Gumroad CEO Sahil Lavingia officially transitioned into a career role at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) this November, pivoting from his previous high-profile assignment within the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Lavingia, who now focuses on enhancing online taxpayer accounts, secured the position after Treasury Department CIO Sam Corcos recruited him to apply his technical expertise to federal modernization efforts following Lavingia’s public reflections on government service.
From DOGE Outsider to IRS Career Employee
Lavingia’s move to the IRS marks a significant shift from his initial entry into the federal landscape. Speaking at a recent industry event alongside Leland Dudek, former acting commissioner of the Social Security Administration, and David Foote of the U.S. Institute of Peace, Lavingia confirmed his new focus on digital infrastructure. His recruitment followed a viral article he authored regarding his time in government, which prompted Corcos to facilitate connections within the Treasury Department.
During a public discussion regarding the agency’s digital future, Lavingia gauged interest in a dedicated IRS mobile app—a proposal that received enthusiastic support from attendees. This initiative aligns with his broader mandate to streamline how American taxpayers interact with federal software.
Lessons from the VA: Debunking Inefficiency Narratives
Before his IRS appointment, Lavingia served at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as part of an early wave of DOGE technologists. Despite having no prior civil service experience, the Silicon Valley entrepreneur attempted to implement aggressive reforms, including the use of AI tools for code generation and the total elimination of paper-based workflows. He also developed data-processing tools designed to identify and terminate redundant agency contracts.
However, his tenure at the VA ended abruptly in May after he spoke to the media about his experiences. Reflecting on that period, Lavingia noted a rapid disillusionment with DOGE’s internal operations, citing a lack of transparency and a centralized communication structure where Steve Davis, CEO of The Boring Company, acted as the sole bridge between disparate agency teams.
A Decade-Long Commitment to Digital Transformation
Lavingia’s frontline experience challenged the common narrative that federal workers are inherently ineffective. He concluded that government “inefficiency” stems less from a lack of technical talent and more from a dense thicket of legal and policy constraints. “The government is pretty efficient,” Lavingia remarked, though he conceded that processes “could move faster.”
While the initial “strike force” atmosphere of DOGE has cooled, Lavingia represents a growing trend of technologists embedding permanently within the federal bureaucracy. He anticipates dedicating the next decade to the public sector, prioritizing the modernization of taxpayer-facing software over the lucrative private-sector opportunities in the artificial intelligence boom.
