United States President-elect Donald Trump has named tech billionaire, Elon Musk, to take the reins at the newly established Department of Government Efficiency.
Trump made this announcement on Tuesday, November 12, 2024,
Musk, known for his roles as the owner of X, the CEO of Tesla, and the founder of Starlink, will lead the department alongside Vivek Ramaswamy, a prominent American businessman and political figure.
The announcement, shared on Musk’s X handle early Wednesday morning, emphasized that the pairing of Musk and Ramaswamy would play a pivotal role in Trump’s administration’s plans to overhaul the U.S. government.
Their focus will be on dismantling government bureaucracy, slashing excessive regulations, cutting wasteful expenditures, and restructuring federal agencies to promote greater efficiency.
Trump, 78, who triumphed over Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election, stated that the mission of DOGE would be central to his administration’s “Save America” movement.
The department’s work is expected to bring sweeping reforms to Washington, with a particular emphasis on reducing the bloated structure of the federal government.
The statement from Trump read, “I am pleased to announce that the great Elon Musk, working in conjunction with American patriot Vivek Ramaswamy, will lead the Department of Government Efficiency (‘DOGE’). Together, these two wonderful Americans will pave the way for my administration to dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excessive regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure federal agencies — essential to the ‘Save America’ movement. This will send shockwaves through the system, and anyone involved in government waste, which is a lot of people!”
Trump continued by suggesting that the efforts led by Musk and Ramaswamy could be as monumental as the historic Manhattan Project, driving deep and lasting reforms within the government.
“It will become, potentially, ‘The Manhattan Project’ of our time. Republican politicians have dreamed about the objectives of ‘DOGE’ for a very long time. To drive this kind of drastic change, the Department of Government Efficiency will provide advice and guidance from outside of government and will partner with the White House and the Office of Management and Budget to drive large-scale structural reform and create an entrepreneurial approach to government never seen before,” he said
The goal is clear: to eliminate waste and inefficiency within the $6.5 trillion of annual government spending.
Trump underscored that the work of the department would benefit all Americans by promoting efficiency and accountability in government.
“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. Importantly, we will drive out the massive waste and fraud that exists throughout our annual $6.5 trillion of government spending. They will work together to liberate our economy and make the US government accountable to ‘We the People.’”
The President-elect also highlighted the ambitious timeline for the department’s work, with a target completion date set for July 4, 2026, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
Trump expressed confidence that Musk and Ramaswamy’s efforts would result in a smaller, more efficient government.
“Their work will conclude no later than 4th July 2026. 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. I am confident they will succeed!”
Musk, who played an active role in supporting Trump during the 2024 election, donating $75 million to pro-Trump groups, has been a vocal advocate for reforming government systems.
His partnership with Ramaswamy is seen as a significant step towards making the government’s operations more business-like, leveraging Musk’s entrepreneurial experience and Ramaswamy’s political expertise.
In addition to Musk’s appointment, Trump’s cabinet will include other key figures such as Lee Zeldin, who will serve as the Environmental Protection Agency Administrator, and Mike Waltz as National Security Advisor.
Other notable appointees include Susie Wiles as White House Chief of Staff, Tom Homan as Border Czar, Elise Stefanik as Ambassador to the United Nations, and Stephen Miller as Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy.
