President-elect Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that Tesla chief Elon Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy will head the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
With this announcement, Trump has delivered on one of his most-talked about promises during the campaign trail.
Notably, this department will not operate as a formal government agency but will provide external advisory services to the White House.
It will partner with the Office of Management and Budget to “drive large scale structural reform, and create an entrepreneurial approach to government never seen before.”
“Together, these two wonderful Americans will pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies,” Trump said in his statement.
The department’s work is set to conclude by July 4, 2026, Trump said in a statement.
He emphasized this date as significant, framing the completion of the efficiency project as a “gift” to the American people for the nation’s 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
“A smaller, more efficient government is what this country deserves,” he said.
Who Is Vivek Ramaswamy?
Ramaswamy, a 38-year-old entrepreneur and former biotech executive, gained prominence for his anti-woke and anti-establishment positions.
After a brief but notable bid for the presidency in 2023, Ramaswamy ended his campaign early in 2024 after finishing fourth in the Iowa caucuses.
He subsequently endorsed Trump, aligning himself with similar policy visions, including the reduction of federal power.
During his campaign, Ramaswamy promised to dismantle significant agencies like the FBI and the Department of Education.
He published a white paper outlining how the president could legally dissolve federal agencies to achieve a leaner government.
Although lacking direct government experience, Ramaswamy has made a name for himself in corporate America as a decisive, cost-cutting leader.
His move urging Buzzfeed to downsize its workforce and incorporate conservative commentators demonstrated his commitment to bold financial measures.
Why is Musk promoting the department?
Musk, who has long advocated for less government intervention, has been vocal about the inefficiencies within the federal system.
His promotion of DOGE, a name with a humorous reference to the cryptocurrency Dogecoin, reflects his unconventional approach.
During his campaign support for Trump, Musk proposed a $2 trillion cut in government spending and outlined measures that would involve assessing employee performance and implementing layoffs for inefficiency.
He also suggested generous severance packages for those affected.
Musk has frequently clashed with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Each of his major ventures has faced scrutiny: Tesla’s self-driving technology, SpaceX’s launch protocols, and Neuralink’s animal testing practices have all been investigated by federal agencies.
Experts suggest that cost-cutting measures could lead to deregulation and policy shifts that might significantly benefit Musk’s array of companies, including Tesla, SpaceX, X, and Neuralink.
However, Musk’s involvement in auditing federal agencies also represents a conflict of interest, as he would potentially oversee regulators who influence his business ventures.
Trump had made clear that Musk would likely not hold any kind of full-time position, given his other commitments.
“I don’t think I can get him full-time because he’s a little bit busy sending rockets up and all the things he does,” Trump said at a Michigan rally in September,
Nevertheless, Musk’s role as an external advisor is expected to bring substantial influence over government reform plans.
Questions of ethics and operational structure
Despite Trump’s enthusiasm for the new department, the specifics of its operation remain unclear.
The DOGE, being an external advisory body, might need to comply with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), which mandates transparency and public accountability.
Whether it will abide by these rules or operate outside of them is still unknown.
Ethics experts have pointed out that because Musk and Ramaswamy will not be federal employees, they will not be subject to typical disclosures that guard against conflicts of interest.
Federal regulations normally require employees to disclose assets and holdings to prevent unethical behavior.
However, since both figures will operate from outside the formal structure, these safeguards do not apply.
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