President-elect Donald Trump has named tech magnate Elon Musk and conservative entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy to run a newly established “Department of Government Efficiency.” This agency will work to restructure government agencies, reduce wasted expenditure, and eliminate bureaucratic inefficiencies.
Trump announced the news on social media, emphasizing that the department would serve as an advisory body “outside of government,” with the objective of implementing significant reforms to governmental processes. Musk and Ramaswamy’s senior positions are part of Trump’s broader effort to decrease regulations, shrink the government, and minimize wasteful spending.
The department’s objective includes eliminating government waste, reforming federal agencies, and making government operations more efficient. Musk, renowned for his leadership in Tesla and SpaceX, has asserted that his initiatives will significantly impact the system and tackle government waste. Musk has also stated that some of the cuts may cause “temporary hardship” for specific groups.
Ramaswamy, who previously campaigned in the 2024 Republican presidential primary, has called for massive cuts to federal agencies. He claims that simply instituting a normal workweek for federal employees could significantly cut government size. On social media, he reaffirmed his stance with a demand to “SHUT IT DOWN,” referring to federal institutions he considers unneeded.
Although the announcement drew attention for its ambitious claims, there are questions about potential conflicts of interest, particularly Musk’s financial relationships with the government. Musk’s enterprises, notably SpaceX, have large federal contracts, raising concerns about how he will reconcile his new responsibilities with his interests.
Trump’s plan also includes the formation of a committee to combat government fraud and inappropriate payments, with the objective of saving trillions of dollars. While the department’s ambition is ambitious, it is unclear whether Congress will embrace such a broad transformation, given the complexities of overhauling federal organizations.
The new agency, which will operate outside of established governmental frameworks, will begin work in the next few months and aim to complete its initial proposals by mid-2026. Trump’s initiative is a significant effort to restructure the federal government, with a focus on efficiency and cost-saving methods.
