Donald Trump reveals Elon Musk’s new role in US Government
President-elect Donald Trump has revealed that Elon Musk will lead the cheekily-titled Department of Government Efficiency under his presidency.
The department, which abbreviates to DOGE, a riff on the cryptocurrency Musk has promoted online, will drive “drastic change” and “send shockwaves through the system”, according to Mr Trump.
“I am pleased to announce that the great Elon Musk, working in conjunction with American patriot Vivek Ramaswamy, will lead the Department of Government Efficiency (“DOGE”),” he said.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“Together, these two wonderful Americans will pave the way for my administration to dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal agencies — essential to the “Save America” movement.”
Musk was quoted in the statement from Mr Trump’s campaign, saying: “This will send shockwaves through the system, and anyone involved in Government waste, which is a lot of people!”
Trump dramatically labelled the appointments the equivalent of “the Manhattan Project of our time” — a program that was in place during World War II to create the nuclear bomb.
“Republican politicians have dreamed about the objectives of ‘DOGE’ for a very long time,” he said.
“To drive this kind of drastic change, the Department of Government Efficiency will provide advice and guidance from outside of government, and will partner with the White House and Office of Management & Budget to drive large-scale structural reform, and create an entrepreneurial approach to government never seen before.”
Musk has been a key supporter of Mr Trump throughout his presidential campaign.
The President-elect made special mention of the tech billionaire in his victory speech after beating Vice President Kamala Harris in a resounding election victory.
Mr Ramaswamy founded the pharmaceutical company Roivant Sciences in 2014 and was briefly in the running as the Republican presidential candidate.
He pulled out of the race and endorsed Mr Trump following the Iowa caucuses in January 2024.
He is the second former presidential candidate to be named in Trump’s cabinet, with Republican Senator Marco Rubio set to be unveiled as Mr Trump’s secretary of state.
Mr Trump said DOGE would “drive out the massive waste and fraud which exists throughout our annual $6.5 trillion dollars of government spending”.
“(Musk and Mr Ramaswamy) will work together to liberate our economy, and make the US Government accountable to “WE THE PEOPLE,” Mr Trump said.
“Their work will conclude no later than July 4, 2026 — A smaller Government, with more efficiency and less bureaucracy, will be the perfect gift to America on the 250th anniversary of The Declaration of Independence. I am confident they will succeed!”
