Trump Taps Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to Co-Lead DOGE Initiative
President-elect Donald Trump names Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to co-lead the Department of Government Efficiency, an outside advisory group aimed at cutting federal waste.
President-elect Donald Trump announces that Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will co-lead the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency, playfully dubbed DOGE after Musk's favorite cryptocurrency. The initiative aims to dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure federal agencies. Rather than operating as an official government agency, DOGE functions as an outside advisory body that partners with the White House and the Office of Management and Budget.
Because DOGE operates from outside the government, it bypasses the need for legislative approvals and congressional funding. The Trump campaign outlines a strict timeline for this project, stating that the department's work concludes no later than July 4, 2026. During recent campaign rallies, Musk promises to identify at least $2 trillion in cuts within federal agencies, though he does not specify exactly which agencies or policies will face reductions.
This leadership role formalizes the increasingly close relationship between Trump and Musk, which accelerates following their joint X Spaces chat in August. Throughout the 2024 presidential race, Musk donates over $100 million to a pro-Trump super PAC and holds rallies in crucial swing states. Trump first publicly promised Musk this position during a September appearance at the Economic Club of New York, making this latest announcement a fulfillment of that pledge.