Trump Appoints Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to Lead New Government Efficiency Initiative

President-elect Donald Trump unveiled a bold new initiative on Tuesday, appointing Elon Musk and former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy to head a new outside advisory group called the Department of Government Efficiency. The initiative, though bearing a government-like name, will not function as an official agency. Instead, it aims to drive large-scale reform within the federal government, aiming to reduce waste and increase efficiency across U.S. agencies.

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a playful nod to Musk’s favorite cryptocurrency, Dogecoin, will operate outside of traditional governmental structures. Trump announced that Musk and Ramaswamy will work alongside the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to advise the White House on how to slash excessive spending and inject an entrepreneurial approach into federal bureaucracy. Musk’s involvement has been a topic of speculation for some time, especially given his past comments about cutting waste in government by as much as $2 trillion.

"This will be a shock to the system," Trump said in his statement. The goal is to revolutionize the way the government functions, making it more efficient and less bogged down by bureaucracy. However, the exact framework and operation of this outside group remain unclear. It’s possible that the group could fall under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), which sets rules for external entities advising the government.

Musk, known for his direct style and frequent presence at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, took to X (formerly Twitter) to comment on the announcement, writing, “Department of Government Efficiency. The merch will be 🔥” and later adding, “Threat to democracy? Nope, threat to BUREAUCRACY!!!”

Unlike traditional government officials, Musk and Ramaswamy will not be subject to the same ethical rules as federal employees. They are not formal appointees, so they won't be required to disclose assets or potential conflicts of interest. This has raised some concerns, as such positions usually have strict oversight to ensure transparency and prevent conflicts.

Trump’s commitment to reducing waste has been a cornerstone of his campaign. During his rally in Michigan in September, he expressed confidence that Musk could bring significant savings to the government. “I don’t think I can get him full-time because he’s busy sending rockets up,” Trump said. “But he’s going to help us slash the waste.” Musk has suggested he could find trillions in savings, which could dramatically reshape federal spending.

Ramaswamy, who suspended his presidential campaign earlier this year and later endorsed Trump, will join Musk in advising on how to reshape the government’s operations. In Trump’s statement, he noted that their work would focus on dismantling government bureaucracy, cutting wasteful expenditures, reducing regulations, and restructuring federal agencies to make them more efficient.

Trump sees the partnership with Musk and Ramaswamy as a key part of his administration’s push to create a more streamlined and cost-effective government, taking inspiration from Musk’s disruptive approach in the private sector.