US President-elect Donald Trump has unveiled billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk and businessman-turned-politician Vivek Ramaswamy as the heads of the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The department, described by Trump as “The Manhattan Project of our time,” aims to eliminate government waste and bureaucracy while slashing excessive regulations and unnecessary expenditures.
In a statement on Tuesday, Trump said, “Together, these two wonderful Americans will pave the way for my administration to dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure federal agencies—essential to the ‘Save America’ Movement.”
Elon Musk expressed his enthusiasm for the role, stating, “This will send shockwaves through the system, and anyone involved in government waste, which is a lot of people!” His appointment reflects Trump’s intention to bring innovative minds to the forefront of governance.
During Trump’s campaign, Musk had predicted that up to $2 trillion could be cut from the federal budget, a staggering figure that may require streamlining entitlement programs like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and veterans’ benefits.
Following his appointment, Vivek Ramaswamy announced on X (formerly Twitter), “And yes, this means I’m withdrawing myself from consideration for the pending Senate appointment in Ohio. Whoever Governor DeWine appoints to JD’s seat has some big shoes to fill. I will help them however I can.” Ramaswamy’s withdrawal clears the path for his focus on restructuring federal agencies and eliminating inefficiencies alongside Musk.President-elect Trump emphasized the significance of DOGE, stating that Republican politicians have long envisioned such reforms.
“I look forward to Elon and Vivek making changes to the federal bureaucracy with an eye on efficiency and, at the same time, making life better for all Americans,” Trump added. “Importantly, we will drive out the massive waste and fraud that exists throughout our annual USD 6.5 trillion of government spending.” In another key nomination, Trump selected former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe to lead the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
