By Nakiwala Barbra
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Elon Musk and Republican businessman Vivek Ramaswamy to co-lead the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The advisory body, which Trump likened to the “Manhattan Project of our time,” is intended to “dismantle government bureaucracy” and reduce waste in federal operations, according to a statement by the Trump transition team.
Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, will work alongside Ramaswamy to enact what is being described as an “entrepreneurial approach to government.” Together, they aim to slash government expenditures, with federal spending currently estimated at approximately $6.5 trillion annually.
The plan is expected to result in substantial job cuts, although Musk has indicated that the administration will offer extended severance packages to those affected. In a recent event in Philadelphia, Musk said, “We will reduce a lot of government headcount, but we’re gonna give very long severances. Like I mean two years, or something like that… The point is not to be cruel.”
Ramaswamy, a vocal proponent of reducing the federal workforce, had previously pledged to cut more than 75% of federal jobs if elected president. The partnership between Musk and Ramaswamy is intended to bring a private-sector mindset to an area of government often criticized for inefficiency.
In addition to this new advisory body, Trump has made other high-profile cabinet appointments. Pete Hegseth, an Army veteran and Fox News host, has been tapped for defense secretary, while John Ratcliffe, former Texas congressman and federal prosecutor, has been named director of national intelligence. Kristi Noem, governor of South Dakota, is set to lead the Department of Homeland Security.
As Republicans move closer to securing a majority in the House of Representatives, Trump’s transition team is pushing forward swiftly with these nominations. The administration is expected to bring a wave of reform across multiple government departments, with Musk and Ramaswamy at the forefront of efforts to bring private-sector efficiency to the public sector.
