President-elect Donald Trump has named tech mogul Elon Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy to head a new government agency focused on improving efficiency within the federal bureaucracy. The Department of Government Efficiency, often referred to as DOGE, will be tasked with reducing waste, cutting unnecessary regulations, and restructuring federal agencies.
In a statement released on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, and shared by Musk on X (formerly Twitter) the following day, Trump outlined how the appointments of Musk and Ramaswamy would help “dismantle government bureaucracy” and reform the way Washington operates.
“I’m pleased to announce that the brilliant Elon Musk, alongside American patriot Vivek Ramaswamy, will lead the Department of Government Efficiency,” Trump said. “Together, they will help us reduce government waste, eliminate excessive regulations, and restructure federal agencies to create a more efficient and accountable government. Their leadership will be crucial in fulfilling our mission to ‘Save America’ and streamline a bloated bureaucracy that has plagued this country for far too long.”
The newly appointed heads of DOGE will partner with the White House and the Office of Management and Budget to spearhead a bold approach to governmental reform. “This will be, potentially, ‘The Manhattan Project’ of our time,” Musk stated, referring to the sweeping changes the department aims to implement. “We’re talking about revolutionary structural reform, where we bring an entrepreneurial mindset to government, making it leaner, faster, and more accountable to the people.”
Trump emphasized that the department’s efforts will also focus on eliminating fraud and waste from the federal budget, which exceeds $6.5 trillion annually. “With Musk and Ramaswamy at the helm, we will take aim at the massive inefficiencies and fraud in government spending, creating real change that benefits all Americans,” he said.
The department’s work is expected to be completed by July 4, 2026, marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. “A smaller, more efficient government will be the perfect gift for America on this historic occasion,” Trump added.
Musk, the CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and owner of the social media platform X, was a prominent supporter of Trump during the 2024 election, contributing $75 million to pro-Trump causes. Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur and author, has been a vocal advocate for economic reforms and free-market principles.
Other key appointments in Trump’s cabinet include:
- Lee Zeldin – Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
- Mike Waltz – National Security Advisor
- Susie Wiles – White House Chief of Staff
- Tom Homan – Border Czar
- Elise Stefanik – Ambassador to the United Nations
- Stephen Miller – Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy
Trump’s announcement underscores his commitment to reducing government size and increasing its efficiency, a central theme of his 2024 campaign.
