Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will co-chair a new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), according to a Tuesday announcement from President-elect Donald Trump. Motivated by Trump’s campaign promise, the new agency seeks to reduce overbearing regulations and administrative red tape. DOGE, whose name alludes to Musk’s role in meme culture, will offer suggestions for cutting federal spending and boosting productivity.
In a social media statement, Musk emphasized the agency’s mission to root out waste, which he believes is pervasive in government. “This will send shockwaves through the system,” he said, adding on X, “Threat to democracy? Nope, threat to BUREAUCRACY!” Musk has set an ambitious goal to cut $2 trillion from the federal budget—an amount surpassing the discretionary budget of $1.7 trillion. While he’s been sparse on specific cuts, Musk has previously criticized federal funding recipients like the Department of Education and National Public Radio (NPR).
Ramaswamy, who has a history of pushing for smaller government, has called for substantial layoffs within federal agencies, suggesting that a standard workweek could naturally trim the workforce by up to 25%. Known for his anti-establishment stance, he has advocated for dissolving multiple federal agencies, including the FBI and Department of Education.
Trump’s vision for DOGE includes operating outside conventional government structures, potentially allowing Musk and Ramaswamy to avoid Senate approval and retain their private sector roles. This new agency is expected to give strategic advice to the White House on overhauling federal agencies, with a target completion date of July 4, 2026. Trump compared DOGE’s ambitions to the Manhattan Project, signaling a monumental effort to reshape federal governance.
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has pledged to support DOGE in providing data and oversight. Gene Dodaro, the GAO head, assured that GAO would extend its non-partisan expertise to aid this unique initiative aimed at streamlining government operations.