The newly formed Department of Government Efficiency, commonly known as DOGE, has lost one of its leaders following biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy’s departure from the advisory group. Shortly after winning the 2024 U.S. Presidential Elections, Donald Trump appointed Ramaswamy as a co-head of the department alongside Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
The White House confirmed Ramaswamy’s exit on Monday, just hours after Trump’s inauguration. According to the administration, Ramaswamy is stepping down to pursue a run for governor of Ohio.
“Vivek Ramaswamy played a critical role in helping us create DOGE,” said Anna Kelly, a spokeswoman for the White House. “We thank him immensely for his contributions over the last two months and expect him to play a vital role in making America great again!”
However, The New York Times reported growing tensions between Ramaswamy and members of Trump’s inner circle, including Musk. According to the report, Musk has privately expressed sharp criticism of Ramaswamy. Despite these disputes, many of Trump’s allies were surprised by Ramaswamy’s decision to step away before the department had even begun operations.
“Unequal partnership”
A person familiar with the matter told The New York Times that Vivek Ramaswamy plans to announce his bid for governor of Ohio next week. However, there has been no official confirmation yet. Many observers noted that Trump’s decision to appoint Ramaswamy and Elon Musk as co-leaders of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) created an “unequal partnership,” given Musk’s significantly greater wealth and higher profile. Additionally, Musk’s top lieutenant, Steve Davis, was widely regarded as the key figure driving the initiative.
Ramaswamy’s departure still caught many by surprise, as the biotech entrepreneur had reportedly told his allies he would delay a gubernatorial bid until much later in 2025. According to the source quoted by The New York Times, Ramaswamy ultimately concluded that managing the efficiency project while preparing for a run for office was impractical. Notably, the Ohio governor’s seat will be up for election in November 2026. Meanwhile, officials at DOGE are expected to present their recommendations for reducing federal spending by July 4, 2026.
Ramaswamy’s focus on the governor’s race comes after current Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted announced their plans to run for the Senate seat being vacated by Vice President J.D. Vance. Interestingly, Ramaswamy had also been considered for the Senate vacancy, with Trump himself reportedly telling him he would be a good fit.
Despite its name, the Department of Government Efficiency is not an official government department. When announcing the initiative, Trump described it as an advisory group tasked with offering external recommendations on cutting federal spending while collaborating with White House budget officials.