In a significant post-election move, United States President-elect Donald Trump has appointed tech billionaire Elon Musk to co-lead the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency, or “DOGE,” alongside conservative entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.
Announced in a statement on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, and shared on Musk’s X platform early Wednesday, Trump emphasized the department’s mission to “dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excessive regulations, cut wasteful spending, and overhaul federal agencies.”
Trump, who won a closely contested race against Democrat Kamala Harris, envisions DOGE as a transformative force in his administration’s “Save America” agenda.
He highlighted the department’s mandate to collaborate with the White House and the Office of Management and Budget to implement sweeping structural reforms, likening it to a “Manhattan Project” for government efficiency.
“I am pleased to announce that Elon Musk, together with American patriot Vivek Ramaswamy, will drive this unprecedented initiative,” Trump stated.
“Their leadership will eliminate inefficiencies within our annual $6.5 trillion in federal spending, liberate our economy, and ensure that the government works for the American people.”
Trump expressed confidence in Musk and Ramaswamy’s ability to deliver a “smaller, more efficient” government by July 4, 2026—the country’s 250th Independence Day anniversary.
“This department’s work will be the ultimate gift to America,” he added.
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, Starlink, and owner of social media platform X, was a vocal Trump supporter in the 2024 election and contributed $75 million to a pro-Trump group, according to Reuters.
Ramaswamy, an entrepreneur known for his strong nationalist stances, is expected to bring his corporate experience to the federal restructuring effort.
Other key figures in Trump’s cabinet include Lee Zeldin as EPA Administrator, Mike Waltz as National Security Advisor, Susie Wiles as White House Chief of Staff, Tom Homan as Border Czar, Elise Stefanik as Ambassador to the UN, and Stephen Miller as Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy.
With Musk and Ramaswamy at the helm, DOGE aims to set a new standard for entrepreneurial governance, bringing a private sector-driven approach to public service reform.
