Vivek Ramaswamy, co-chair of the newly-formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has stepped down to focus on his campaign for the Governor of Ohio. The move leaves billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk in sole charge of the cost-cutting initiative under President Donald Trump’s administration.
Ramaswamy confirmed his departure on Monday through a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “It was my honor to help support the creation of DOGE. I’m confident that Elon and his team will succeed in streamlining government. I’ll have more to say very soon about my future plans in Ohio. Most importantly, we’re all-in to help President Trump make America great again!” The post was accompanied by a picture of Ramaswamy with Musk, captioned, “a new dawn.”
The Indian-American entrepreneur-turned-politician, who made his fortune in biotechnology, has been a prominent figure in Trump’s populist “Make America Great Again” movement. Ramaswamy rose to political prominence as a vocal critic of identity politics and diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. After an unsuccessful bid in the Republican presidential primary, where he placed fourth in Iowa’s caucuses, Ramaswamy endorsed Trump and emerged as a close ally.
Ramaswamy’s potential candidacy for the Ohio governorship has been a topic of speculation since Vice President JD Vance’s Senate seat was filled by Ohio Lt. Governor Jon Husted. While the formal announcement of his run is expected in 2026, sources suggest it could come as early as next week. If successful, Ramaswamy would become the first Indian-American Governor of Ohio, joining Bobby Jindal of Louisiana and Nikki Haley of South Carolina as Indian Americans to govern a U.S. state.
The White House acknowledged Ramaswamy’s contributions to DOGE, with spokesperson Anna Kelly stating, “Vivek Ramaswamy played a critical role in helping us create DOGE. He intends to run for elected office soon, which requires him to remain outside of DOGE based on the structure announced today. We thank him immensely for his contributions and expect him to play a vital role in making America great again.”
Established by President Trump shortly after his re-election, DOGE is tasked with identifying ways to reduce the federal government’s size, cut programs, fire federal workers, and slash regulations. Musk’s involvement has sparked ethical concerns, given his leadership of companies like SpaceX and Tesla, both of which stand to benefit from federal contracts and policies. Critics warn that such initiatives often face public backlash when they target programs that millions of Americans rely on for essential services.
Despite the challenges, Musk and his team remain committed to executing Trump’s ambitious “Save America” agenda. As Ramaswamy shifts focus to his gubernatorial campaign, all eyes will be on Ohio, where his next political chapter is set to unfold.
