President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Elon Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy to lead the newly established Department of Government Efficiency.
The department’s mission is to reduce government bureaucracy, streamline federal operations, and eliminate unnecessary spending. Operating outside traditional government frameworks, it will collaborate closely with the White House and the Office of Management and Budget to bring an “entrepreneurial approach” to reform, with a goal of achieving significant changes by the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026.
Both Musk and Ramaswamy will serve in informal roles, bypassing Senate confirmation, which allows Musk to continue his leadership roles at Tesla, SpaceX, and social media platform X. Known for his influence in Washington and his substantial donations to Trump’s campaign, Musk will focus on reducing the federal budget and increasing government transparency. He plans to make the department’s activities publicly accessible, including a “leaderboard” tracking questionable government spending. The department’s acronym, “DOGE,” is a nod to Musk’s frequent promotion of the cryptocurrency dogecoin. Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur and former Republican presidential hopeful, will also withdraw from his bid for the Ohio Senate seat to join the Trump administration’s efforts alongside Musk.
