United States President-elect Donald Trump has appointed tech billionaire Elon Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy to lead a newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
The appointments, announced in a statement by Trump on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, aim to streamline federal operations by reducing bureaucracy and cutting wasteful spending.
Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, will collaborate with Ramaswamy to achieve large-scale structural reforms within the federal government. According to the statement shared via Musk’s social media platform X on Wednesday, the duo will work closely with the White House and the Office of Management and Budget to drive efficiency across government agencies.
Trump, 78, who secured a victory over Democratic candidate Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election, emphasized that DOGE’s mission aligns with his administration’s broader “Save America” initiative. The department’s efforts will focus on slashing excessive regulations, restructuring federal agencies, and fostering an entrepreneurial approach to governance.
In his statement, Trump expressed confidence in Musk and Ramaswamy’s ability to “dismantle government bureaucracy” and reduce the waste found in the annual $6.5 trillion federal budget.
He likened the initiative to a modern-day “Manhattan Project” for government reform, aimed at delivering a leaner, more efficient government by the country’s 250th Independence Day on July 4, 2026.
Musk, who was a vocal supporter of the Trump-Vance ticket in the recent election, has committed to concluding the department’s work by mid-2026. Trump noted that a more efficient government would be a fitting gift to Americans on the nation’s semiquincentennial anniversary.
The tech mogul’s involvement in Trump’s campaign included a $75 million donation to a pro-Trump political action committee, signaling his strong support for the Republican agenda. Musk, in his statement, vowed to challenge entrenched interests and bring an innovative approach to the federal government.
The Department of Government Efficiency represents a bold move by the incoming administration to overhaul the public sector, with Musk and Ramaswamy set to lead the charge in creating a more accountable and streamlined federal government.
