Trump Appoints Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to Lead Department of Government Efficiency

President-elect Donald Trump announced the formation of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) on Tuesday, November 12th, naming Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead the initiative. The new department, aimed at overhauling federal operations, will work outside the government to help reduce bureaucracy, eliminate excess regulations, and cut wasteful spending.

Although DOGE will not function as a formal government agency, it will guide the White House and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in driving large-scale reforms. Trump emphasized that Musk and Ramaswamy will assist in dismantling government inefficiencies. “They will pave the way for my administration to dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure federal agencies,” Trump said in a statement.

Musk, known for his leadership in companies such as Tesla and SpaceX, has committed to ensuring transparency in DOGE’s activities. The tech entrepreneur promised on the social media platform X that all department actions would be publicly documented for “maximum transparency,” even suggesting a “leaderboard” to track government spending.

The announcement has sparked mixed reactions. While analysts like Daniel Ives from Wedbush Securities view Musk’s involvement as likely to increase his influence over federal agencies, critics have raised concerns about the lack of government experience between Musk and Ramaswamy. Lisa Gilbert of Public Citizen, a progressive consumer rights group, argued that Musk’s businesses have often run afoul of regulations, calling into question his ability to oversee government efficiency.

Ramaswamy, who previously ran for president, has also voiced strong support for reducing government spending, though, like Musk, he needs more direct experience in government administration. He expressed his commitment to the project on X, saying, “We will not go gently.”

Trump has set an assertive timeline for the DOGE initiative, aiming for its work to conclude by July 4, 2026, the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. “A smaller Government and more efficient government will be a gift to America,” Trump said.