US President-elect Donald Trump has announced the appointment of Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and ‘X,’ alongside Indian-origin entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, to lead the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). “I am pleased to announce that the great Elon Musk, in collaboration with American patriot Vivek Ramaswamy, will head the Department of Government Efficiency (‘DOGE’),” Trump stated in an official release on Tuesday.
These two visionaries will drive efforts to dismantle government bureaucracy, reduce excessive regulations, eliminate wasteful spending, and restructure federal agencies – essential components of the “Save America” movement. “Their work will send shockwaves through the system and challenge those entrenched in government waste, which is widespread,” Trump added.
DOGE will work closely with the White House and the Office of Management and Budget to spearhead large-scale reforms and foster an innovative approach to governance. “It has the potential to become the ‘Manhattan Project’ of our era. The goals of DOGE have long been a dream of Republican politicians. To achieve such radical change, DOGE will leverage expertise from outside the government and collaborate with key federal offices to drive impactful structural reforms,” Trump explained.
Expressing confidence in their mission, Trump remarked, “I look forward to Elon and Vivek transforming the federal bureaucracy to enhance efficiency and improve life for all Americans. By tackling waste and fraud across our $6.5 trillion in annual government spending, they will empower our economy and ensure the government serves ‘We the People.’ Their task will be completed by July 4, 2026 – a streamlined, efficient government will be the perfect gift for America’s 250th Independence Day. I have no doubt they will succeed!”
Following the announcement, Musk posted on X, saying, “Department of Government Efficiency The merch will be fire.” Ramaswamy, who ended his presidential bid in January to support Trump, echoed his determination in a post tagging Musk: “We will not go gently, @elonmusk.” He also repeated his campaign slogan calling for federal agency reform, writing, “SHUT IT DOWN.” He affirmed, “Americans gave President Trump a decisive mandate to end illegal immigration. He’s going to deliver.”
Ramaswamy also announced his withdrawal from consideration for a pending Senate seat in Ohio. “Yes, this means I’m stepping back from consideration for the pending Senate appointment in Ohio. Whoever Governor DeWine appoints will have big shoes to fill, and I’ll support them however I can,” he posted.
Earlier that day, Trump made additional key nominations, including former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe as CIA Director, William Joseph McGinley as White House Counsel, former New York Congressman Lee Zeldin as EPA Administrator, and Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense. Following his victory over Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election, Trump is swiftly assembling his foreign policy and national security teams ahead of his formal inauguration in January 2025.