President-elect Donald Trump has unveiled plans to create a new Department of Government Efficiency, set to be led by Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, and Vivek Ramaswamy, entrepreneur and former Republican primary candidate. The announcement, made on November 12, comes as part of Trump’s effort to streamline government operations and reduce inefficiencies within the federal bureaucracy.
Trump shared that Musk and Ramaswamy will spearhead efforts to “dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure federal agencies.” This bold initiative, named the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), is designed to revamp how the U.S. government operates, aligning it with the vision of efficiency championed by both Musk and Ramaswamy.
The name of the department—DOGE—seems to be a playful nod to the popular cryptocurrency Dogecoin, which features the Shiba Inu meme. Trump has likened the scope and impact of the department to the historic Manhattan Project, underscoring its potential to bring about transformative change. The project reflects the administration’s drive to overhaul government spending and operations on a significant scale.
While Musk has long been a proponent of reducing government spending—having previously called for a $2 trillion reduction—his role in this initiative may be seen as an extension of his ongoing involvement with government contracts, particularly with SpaceX. Ramaswamy, known for his bold policy proposals, has advocated for cutting the federal workforce by as much as 75%, aligning with the broader vision for downsizing the federal government.
Despite the ambitious nature of this department, the exact structure and jurisdiction of DOGE remain unclear. It is uncertain whether it will operate as part of the federal government or as a separate entity, and establishing an official agency would likely require approval from Congress.
This announcement signals a clear shift in the Trump administration’s approach to government efficiency, with Musk and Ramaswamy at the helm of what could be a groundbreaking effort to overhaul the federal system. If successful, this initiative could lead to a significant reshaping of how government functions, with an emphasis on cutting costs and reducing the size of the federal apparatus.