In a post-election shake-up, US President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy to oversee the newly formed “Department of Government Efficiency” (D.O.G.E.). This ambitious effort intends to improve federal operations, decrease unnecessary spending, and significantly reduce government bureaucracy. Trump’s transition team announced the nominations in a statement on November 12, emphasizing the need for a new, entrepreneurial approach to operating the government.
“This will send shockwaves through the system,” Musk reportedly stated, reaffirming his determination to eliminate inefficiencies. Trump compared the department’s aim to a “Manhattan Project” for government change, emphasizing the scale of the task Musk and Ramaswamy will face.
D.O.G.E. is envisioned as a bold endeavor to cut the federal government’s $6.5 trillion annual spending by eliminating obsolete regulations and encouraging private-sector efficiency in federal operations. With this endeavor, the Trump administration is relying largely on Silicon Valley-style disruption to manage and modernize government procedures. This effort will involve collaboration with external consultants and relationships with federal agencies such as the Office of Management and Budget, to bring entrepreneurial practices to the highest levels of government.
Musk and Ramaswamy’s work has an ambitious timeframe, with the makeover expected to be completed by July 4, 2026, which coincides with the 250th anniversary of America’s Declaration of Independence. Trump expressed confidence in their talents to oversee a fundamental transition that, according to his vision: