Elon Musk and Indian-American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy will head the new “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) in the upcoming Donald Trump administration, the President-elect announced on Wednesday. According to Trump, the pair will offer “advice and guidance” from outside the government, collaborating with the White House and the Office of Management and Budget to drive major structural reforms.
What is the Department of Government Efficiency?
The Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, is a newly proposed wing in Trump’s administration, initially suggested by Musk. Championed by Trump as a solution to reduce government bureaucracy, DOGE takes its acronym from Dogecoin, a cryptocurrency Musk frequently promotes.
While specific operational details remain unclear, Trump stated that Musk and Ramaswamy’s mandate will be to streamline government functions by reducing bureaucracy, eliminating unnecessary regulations, cutting wasteful spending, and restructuring federal agencies.
Trump envisions DOGE as a transformative project akin to the Manhattan Project—a World War II-era collaboration between the U.S., U.K., and Canada to develop nuclear weapons.
Musk’s role in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) may present a potential conflict of interest, as his companies—such as Tesla and SpaceX—hold billions in federal contracts and have benefited from federal programs, including electric vehicle tax credits and infrastructure investments, according to Bloomberg.
Musk’s Statement
Elon Musk stated that the DOGE will “send shockwaves through the system and target anyone involved in government waste,” highlighting his commitment to reform.
“This will send shockwaves through the system and anyone involved in government waste—which is a lot of people!” he remarked.
As a strong Trump supporter, Musk pledged full transparency for DOGE’s actions, with updates posted online for public viewing.
“If people think we’re cutting something essential or sparing waste, they can speak up! We’ll also have a leaderboard for the most absurd examples of taxpayer spending. It’ll be both tragic and highly entertaining,” Musk added.
Donald Trump, who recently defeated Democratic opponent Kamala Harris by 69 electoral votes, had previously suggested a prominent role for Musk. Musk, a major figure in Trump’s campaign, contributed over $100 million to Trump’s re-election efforts.
