US President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Indian-American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy to head the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Announcing the appointments, Trump declared, “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).” Ramaswamy is the first Indian American chosen for Trump’s administration, set to begin on January 20.
What is the Department of Government Efficiency?
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a new initiative under President-elect Donald Trump’s administration, aligns with his "Save America" movement. Its mission is to dismantle government bureaucracy, cut excess regulations, eliminate wasteful spending, and restructure federal agencies. DOGE will work closely with the White House and the Office of Management and Budget to implement what Trump describes as an "entrepreneurial approach to Government," which he deems unprecedented. He likened the initiative to a modern-day "Manhattan Project" in terms of its ambition and scope.
Trump has tasked Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Indian-American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy with leading DOGE. He emphasized that the department’s primary goal is to target what he called "massive waste and fraud" within the federal government’s $6.5 trillion budget. Trump set a deadline for DOGE’s mission to be completed by July 4, 2026—America's 250th Independence Day—proclaiming that a more efficient, less bureaucratic government would be a fitting gift for the nation on its milestone anniversary.
Musk promised that DOGE would operate with full transparency. "All actions of the Department of Government Efficiency will be posted online for maximum transparency," he said on X (formerly Twitter), inviting the public to share tips and provide input. Musk also teased the creation of a "leaderboard" to highlight the most egregious examples of government spending, calling it "both extremely tragic and extremely entertaining."
At a Trump rally in October, Musk asserted that the federal budget could be reduced by "at least $2 trillion," with discretionary spending—including defense—accounting for a significant portion of the $6.75 trillion federal budget for fiscal 2024. "Your money is being wasted, and the Department of Government Efficiency is going to fix that," Musk said, vowing to reduce the burden on taxpayers.
The acronym DOGE also serves as a nod to the cryptocurrency Dogecoin, which Musk has actively supported. In August, Musk and Tesla won the dismissal of a lawsuit accusing them of defrauding investors by promoting Dogecoin, which led to billions of dollars in losses. Since the election, Dogecoin’s value has surged, partly fueled by expectations of more favorable regulation under a Trump administration.
Both Musk and Ramaswamy shared their enthusiasm on X (formerly Twitter). Musk posted, “Department of Government Efficiency. The merch will be ��,” while Ramaswamy wrote, “We will not go gently, @elonmusk,” reiterating his campaign slogan, "SHUT IT DOWN," and signalling his focus on reform.