Trump Names Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy to Lead New ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ Initiative
WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday announced the formation of a new initiative called the “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE), with Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy at the helm. Despite its official-sounding name, DOGE will not be a formal government agency but rather an external advisory group tasked with delivering recommendations to streamline government operations.
The acronym “DOGE” is a playful nod to Musk’s fondness for the cryptocurrency Dogecoin. In a statement, Trump said that Musk and Ramaswamy would provide “advice and guidance” to the White House from outside the federal system and partner with the Office of Management and Budget to push forward “large-scale structural reform” and “an entrepreneurial approach to governmennever seen before.” Trump added that their recommendations would seek to disrupt traditional bureaucratic structures, potentially sparking significant changes in federal processes.
Musk, who has become a frequent visitor at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort since the election, responded to the announcement on X (formerly Twitter) with enthusiasm, posting, “Department of Government Efficiency. The merch will be 🔥🔥🔥.” He later added, “Threat to democracy? Nope, threat to BUREAUCRACY!!!”
Though details remain sparse, the advisory initiative could be subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), which requires transparency and accountability for non-governmental groups that provide guidance to the executive branch. However, as informal advisors, Musk and Ramaswamy would likely not face the same financial disclosure requirements or conflict-of-interest regulations that apply to federal employees.
The collaboration between Trump and Musk aligns with Trump’s long-standing goal to drastically reduce government spending and bureaucracy. Musk has previously expressed interest in uncovering inefficiencies within the federal system and suggested he could identify up to $2 trillion in potential savings, representing nearly one-third of the government’s annual budget.
While Trump has indicated that he would like Musk’s insights on slashing federal costs, he acknowledged that Musk’s commitments to his companies likely preclude him from taking on a full-time role. “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 joked at a rally in Michigan last September.
Ramaswamy, who suspended his own presidential campaign in January to support Trump, is expected to bring his business acumen and vision for government reform to the initiative. Together, Musk and Ramaswamy will focus on “dismantling government bureaucracy, slashing excess regulations, cutting wasteful expenditures, and restructuring federal agencies,” according to Trump’s statement.
The announcement is one of many Trump has made in recent weeks as he assembles a roster of high-profile allies and advisers to shape his upcoming administration.
