President-elect Donald Trump announced tonight that he has chosen billionaire Elon Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy to lead a new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) when he takes office in 2025. The acronym DOGE is believed to be a nod to the digital currency dogecoin, which Musk is known to support.
According to the announcement, the two appointees will play a crucial role in dismantling government bureaucracy, reducing regulations, cutting unnecessary spending, and restructuring federal agencies. While the specifics of DOGE have not been revealed, it is expected to provide external advice and collaborate with the White House and the Office of Management & Budget.
This decision follows Trump’s previous statement in September, where he mentioned creating a government efficiency commission to be headed by Musk. The tech mogul has been vocal about his goal to cut $2 trillion in federal spending, with a reported $1.7 billion spent on discretionary funds in 2023. On his social media platform X, Musk has hinted at departments and areas he plans to target, including the Department of Education and funding for National Public Radio.
Musk has been a strong supporter of Trump, contributing close to $200 million to his political action committee, the America PAC, during the campaign. He also appeared at a rally in Pennsylvania and held town halls across the state to rally support for the former president. Musk’s influence on his social media platform X, where he has over 17.1 billion views on his political posts between endorsing Trump and the end of October, has also been noted by the Center for Countering Digital Hate.
In his statement, the president-elect announced that Musk and Ramaswamy will complete their work in the new department by July 4, 2026. This decision has been met with mixed reactions, with some praising the expertise of the appointees while others express concerns about their lack of government experience. Only time will tell the impact of this new department on government efficiency.
