Author Michael Lewis has examined how the Department of Government Efficiency reshaped federal agencies and affected civil servants in his book "Blockers: Rebels in the Deep State."
The book was published October 6, 2026, according to The Oregonian/OregonLive.
DOGE reduced the federal workforce by 9%, or 209,775 employees, by February 2026.
The department officially closed July 4, 2026, after beginning operations under Elon Musk in January 2025.
Stories of Resistance
Lewis said his book focuses on employees who resisted DOGE actions, including Colin O'Brien, Kathleen Walters, Francis Collins, and other federal workers.
He described the project as a way to examine government changes through the experiences of people affected.
"What got me going was this radical seizure of power, that they set out to redefine the presidency and redefine the 2 million-person civil service as something that served the narrow interests of the president," Lewis said.
Lewis told The Oregonian/OregonLive that he interviewed about 100 to 150 people while developing the book.
He selected six central figures after researching their roles and collecting accounts from colleagues.
"Those are the buckets of the government. They're these basic functions that the government performs that the private sector won't," Lewis said.
The book examines federal functions through individual stories, including employees connected to the U. S.
Institute of Peace, the Internal Revenue Service, and the National Human Genome Research Institute.
"I think that at the bottom of the government, at the bottom of all the functions, is the spirit," Lewis said.
Lewis also discussed the importance of public service and the motivations of government employees featured in the book.
The Oregonian/OregonLive reported that he will appear October 29 in Portland to discuss "Blockers" with editor David Shipley.
