In a significant post-election move, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has appointed tech billionaire Elon Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy to spearhead a new government initiative aimed at drastically cutting bureaucracy and improving efficiency. Trump announced that Musk and Ramaswamy would lead the “Department of Government Efficiency” (D.O.G.E.), an ambitious body set to reduce federal waste, enhance transparency, and oversee large-scale government reform.
Trump broke the news on his Truth Social platform, calling Musk a “Great” addition and praising Ramaswamy’s patriotism and acumen. This new initiative aligns with Trump’s campaign promises to streamline government and rein in spending, a vision he likened to the transformative “Manhattan Project.”
“I am pleased to announce that the Great Elon Musk, working in conjunction with American Patriot Vivek Ramaswamy, will lead the Department of Government Efficiency (‘DOGE’),” Trump posted. The new department is charged with providing independent advice to the White House on government spending and will target inefficiencies and redundancies across federal agencies. It’s anticipated that D.O.G.E. will play a vital role in trimming the $6.5 trillion federal budget, aiming for completion by July 4, 2026, to coincide with the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
Ramaswamy, 39, shared his excitement on social media, tagging Musk and stating, “We will not go gently.” Previously speculated to fill the Ohio Senate seat soon to be vacated by Vice President-elect J.D. Vance, Ramaswamy said he is withdrawing from consideration for the role to focus on the D.O.G.E. initiative. “I will help however I can,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Musk, known for his transformative work at Tesla and SpaceX, has long voiced concerns over government waste and regulation. In a statement on his social media platform, Musk said he aims to make D.O.G.E. a “shockwave through the system.” He has proposed tracking the department’s work publicly and plans to introduce a leaderboard to showcase some of the “most insanely dumb” instances of taxpayer waste, a move he described as both “tragic and entertaining.”
Trump praised Musk and Ramaswamy as “smart, driven leaders” and suggested that they would be instrumental in ensuring government accountability. Both men were ardent Trump supporters during the election, with Musk donating over $100 million to Trump’s campaign and actively endorsing his candidacy. Ramaswamy, who was once Trump’s primary rival, later joined forces with the President-elect, vigorously supporting his economic and immigration policies.
Analysts say D.O.G.E. represents Trump’s latest bid to revamp the federal system through a private sector-inspired approach.
