Donald Trump Appoints Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to Lead New Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)

U.S. President-elect Trump announced on November 12, 2024, that Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will lead the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The department aims to dismantle bureaucracy, cut excess regulations, reduce wasteful expenditures, and restructure federal agencies. Trump described their efforts as a “gift” to the country, aiming to streamline government operations for greater effectiveness.

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, X, and SpaceX, and Ramaswamy, a pharmaceutical entrepreneur and former Republican presidential candidate, both support Trump and bring a business-oriented approach to the project. Musk, in particular, referred to the initiative as a potential “Manhattan Project” for modern times, with the goal of tackling government waste and sending “shockwaves” through the system.

The acronym DOGE, for the new department, coincidentally aligns with the name of the popular cryptocurrency Dogecoin, which Elon Musk has famously supported. This connection has already generated attention as the project looks to transform the way federal agencies operate.

Trump’s appointments reflect his commitment to streamlining government, cutting red tape, and improving efficiency by applying private sector practices to public management.

Trump had proposed the creation of a government efficiency commission as part of a slate of new economic plans that he unveiled in early September. At the time, he said Elon Musk had agreed to lead it if he were to secure a return to the White House.

Trump’s statement Tuesday night quoted Musk as saying that “this will send shockwaves through the system, and anyone involved in Government waste, which is a lot of people!”

Elon Musk and Ramaswamy separately responded on X with a slogan Ramaswamy often used during his presidential campaign to call for the elimination of federal agencies