In a major move for his upcoming administration, President-elect Donald Trump has named billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk and Republican entrepreneur-turned-politician Vivek Ramaswamy to head the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The department’s primary mission will be to streamline the federal government by reducing bureaucracy, eliminating wasteful spending, and cutting unnecessary regulations.
Trump, who is finalizing key positions for his administration ahead of his January 2025 inauguration, expressed strong confidence in Musk and Ramaswamy’s abilities to reform the U.S. government. In a statement released on Tuesday, he described the department as a critical component of his “Save America” agenda. “Together, these two incredible leaders will drive meaningful change by slashing waste, cutting red tape, and restructuring federal agencies,” Trump said.
Both Musk and Ramaswamy have long been advocates of reducing government inefficiency. Musk, known for his leadership of SpaceX and Tesla, emphasized that their work would “send shockwaves” through Washington, particularly among those benefiting from government waste. “This is a monumental task, but we’re ready to take it on,” Musk said.
Musk has tapped Ramaswamy, who previously ran for president and is an outspoken critic of corporate America’s influence in politics, to spearhead this initiative.“This is the ‘Manhattan Project’ of government reform,” Trump said, drawing a parallel to the U.S. effort that led to the development of the atomic bomb. “We will overhaul the bloated, wasteful spending that has become endemic in our $6.5 trillion federal budget.”
Following the announcement, Ramaswamy, who had been under consideration for a Senate seat in Ohio, confirmed on social media that he would be stepping back from those plans in order to focus on his new role. “I’m excited to take on this critical mission to make our government more efficient and accountable to the American people,” he posted.
One of the bold goals of DOGE is to identify and eliminate billions of dollars in inefficiency within the federal budget, with Musk previously stating he could cut at least $2 trillion in federal expenditures. While that ambitious target would likely necessitate reductions in popular entitlement programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and veterans’ benefits, Musk has argued that such reforms are necessary to prevent fiscal collapse.
Musk and Ramaswamy are poised to bring a tech-driven, business-oriented approach to Washington, and their appointments signal a major shift toward privatization and efficiency in the federal government. Trump is expected to make the Department of Government Efficiency a centerpiece of his presidency as he seeks to reshape the federal landscape.
(By Ankita Singh, Web Team at C6N)
