President-elect Donald Trump has announced that Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and owner of X, will co-lead a newly established government department aimed at increasing efficiency and reducing waste.
This new branch, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), will be co-directed by Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. Together, they will work on Trump’s initiative to streamline federal operations.
The appointment follows Musk’s endorsement of Trump during the recent presidential race, where Musk contributed over $119 million to support Trump’s campaign efforts in key battleground states.
The president-elect expressed his confidence in the duo, stating, “Musk and Ramaswamy will pave the way for my administration to dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure federal agencies.”
Musk has long been vocal about his views on reducing government waste, and he recently hinted at the possibility of eliminating a significant number of federal departments.
In a post on his social media platform, X, Musk suggested that “99 [federal departments] is enough,” he has advocated for downsizing the government to focus on efficiency rather than bureaucracy.
Musk addressed concerns about his stance, writing, “Threat to democracy? Nope, a threat to bureaucracy.”
This initiative aligns with Trump’s broader goals for his upcoming administration, which include restructuring and slimming down federal operations.
Trump is also preparing to place new leadership in other key positions. Fox News host and National Guard veteran Pete Hegseth has been selected as the new Secretary of Defense.
At the same time, former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe is slated to head the CIA.
“A smaller government, with more efficiency and less bureaucracy, will be the perfect gift to America on the 250th anniversary of The Declaration of Independence,” Trump remarked. “I am confident they will succeed!”
Musk echoed Trump’s sentiments in a statement, predicting that the department’s efforts “will send shockwaves through the system and anyone involved in government waste.”
Although Musk has previously suggested a goal of cutting $2 trillion from the federal budget, he has yet to provide specific details on the measures needed to achieve this ambitious target.
Vivek Ramaswamy, who endorsed Trump after suspending his own presidential campaign earlier this year, has previously voiced support for reducing federal agency staffing.
Ramaswamy has advocated for substantial layoffs in government to foster a more streamlined and accountable system.
With these new appointments, Trump aims to start his second term with a significant restructuring effort to create a leaner, more effective federal government.
