US President-elect Donald Trump has selected Elon Musk to head a new initiative aimed at overhauling the federal bureaucracy. Musk, the founder of SpaceX and Tesla, will work alongside Vivek Ramaswamy, a biotech investor, to lead the Department of Government Efficiency, or "Doge." This initiative, which takes its name from Musk's favored cryptocurrency, Dogecoin, aims to "dismantle" bureaucratic inefficiencies within the government.
In a statement, Trump said the pair would offer external advice to the White House on how to drive large-scale structural reforms, focusing on reducing waste and inefficiency in government operations.
Earlier, Trump had named Pete Hegseth, a combat veteran and Fox News host, as his nominee for Defense Secretary, and former Texas congressman John Ratcliffe as CIA Director.
Musk, a major donor to Trump's campaign, had long been speculated to take on a key role in the administration. Ramaswamy, who ran as a Republican presidential candidate earlier this year, had dropped out of the race and endorsed Trump.
Trump explained that the Doge initiative would work to streamline government operations, reduce excessive regulations, cut wasteful spending, and restructure federal agencies. Although the Doge is not an official government department — as such entities require congressional approval — it will operate within the White House and the Office of Management & Budget.
Musk has been vocal about his desire to see massive reductions in federal spending. He recently called for cuts of at least $2 trillion, nearly a third of the federal budget, and proposed eliminating several federal agencies that overlap in their functions.
Trump compared the Doge initiative to the Manhattan Project, which developed the first nuclear weapons during World War II. He set a deadline of July 4, 2026, to complete the reforms, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Trump emphasized that a smaller, more efficient government would be a fitting gift to America on this historic milestone.
In a statement, Musk said the initiative would "send shockwaves through the system," targeting government waste and inefficiency. Musk also posted on his social media platform X, commenting, “Threat to democracy? Nope, threat to BUREAUCRACY!!!”
Ramaswamy, who had previously advocated for drastic cuts to the federal workforce and the closure of several major agencies, including the Department of Education and the FBI, echoed Musk's sentiments. He also announced he would withdraw from consideration for the Ohio Senate seat vacated by US Vice President JD Vance.
Since Trump's victory, Musk has been spending a significant amount of time with the president-elect, including participating in a recent phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Meanwhile, the value of Dogecoin, a cryptocurrency championed by Musk, has seen significant increases, further fueling attention around the initiative.
Trump’s announcement also included several other key appointments, such as South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, who has been nominated as Secretary of Homeland Security.
Trump's New Team: Who’s Who in His Cabinet Appointments for the Next Term
Melania Trump Skips Traditional White House Meeting with Jill Biden
