13-11-2024 (WASHINGTON) President-elect Donald Trump has announced the creation of a new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), appointing tech entrepreneur Elon Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy as its leaders.
The unprecedented initiative, announced via social media, aims to dramatically reduce government spending and regulations. The department’s acronym, DOGE, appears to reference the cryptocurrency meme culture associated with Musk, highlighting the unconventional nature of the appointment.
Musk, who has proposed ambitious plans to slash $2 trillion from federal spending—exceeding the current discretionary budget of $1.7 trillion—acknowledged that his proposed cuts could result in “temporary hardship” for some Americans. However, specific details about the targeted reductions remain largely undefined, though he has previously criticised funding for entities such as the Department of Education and National Public Radio.
Ramaswamy, known for his aggressive stance on government downsizing during his primary campaign, brings to the role his previous calls for extensive federal agency eliminations. His target list has included major institutions such as the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and several other federal bodies.
The department’s unusual structure, operating “outside of Government,” appears designed to circumvent traditional Senate confirmation requirements while allowing both appointees to maintain their private sector positions. This arrangement has raised questions about oversight and accountability mechanisms.
Trump’s administration likened the department’s ambitious scope to the Manhattan Project, suggesting a transformation of similar magnitude in government operations. The President-elect’s statement emphasised the department’s role in dismantling what he terms “Government Bureaucracy.”
