Donald Trump has appointed billionaire Elon Musk and Republican businessman-turned-politician Vivek Ramaswamy to lead the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in his upcoming administration. This department is tasked with reducing government regulations, cutting wasteful expenditures, and restructuring federal agencies.
In a statement released Tuesday, Trump described Musk and Ramaswamy as the ideal leaders to help dismantle government bureaucracy and drive efficiency within federal agencies. Trump emphasized that the new department would focus on addressing waste and inefficiencies in the US government’s $6.5 trillion annual budget, likening it to a modern-day “Manhattan Project.”
Musk, commenting on his appointment, expressed enthusiasm about tackling government waste, saying, “This will send shockwaves through the system, and anyone involved in government waste, which is a lot of people!”
Trump added that the establishment of DOGE had been a long-standing goal for many Republican politicians, and it would be a key part of his administration’s “Save America” movement.
In a follow-up statement, Ramaswamy announced he would withdraw from consideration for a Senate appointment in Ohio, expressing support for the process and offering to assist whoever is selected to fill the seat.
During his presidential campaign, Musk predicted he could cut at least $2 trillion from the federal budget, with potential savings including reductions in entitlement programs like Social Security, Medicare, and veterans’ benefits.