U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has indicated that once he takes office in the White House in January 2025, he will appoint billionaire Elon Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy to head a new Department of Government Efficiency. This department, called Doge- an acronym that may refer to the cryptocurrency Dogecoin, of which Musk is a known supporter- will aim to reform and simplify government bureaucracy.
In the announcement, released during the European night between Tuesday and Wednesday, Trump said, “These two extraordinary Americans will lead my administration in the process of dismantling government bureaucracy, reducing unnecessary regulations, eliminating wasteful spending, and restructuring federal agencies.”
A whole new ministry
Although details on how the Doge will function are still scarce, Trump stressed that the new department will “provide advice and direction from outside the government” and “collaborate with the White House and the Office of Management and Budget.” In September, the tycoon anticipated the creation of a government efficiency commission led by Musk, should he be reelected. The entrepreneur, known for his leadership in companies such as X, Tesla and SpaceX, has previously proposed reducing U.S. federal spending by $2 trillion. In 2023, the government has allocated $1.7 trillion in discretionary funds, optional spending approved through specific measures. On X, Musk has already suggested areas and departments to be eliminated, including the Department of Education and funding for National Public Radio. This nonprofit network includes more than 1,000 American broadcasters.
The collaboration between Trump and Musk In recent months, Elon Musk has emerged as one of Trump’s leading supporters. During the campaign, he donated nearly $200 million to a fundraising committee, America Pac, which he used to support the Republican’s bid for the White House. In addition, Musk attended campaign events with Trump, including a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, and held meetings across the state to promote his candidacy.
Leveraging his visibility and following on X, Musk also spread Trump’s campaign messages, encouraging his followers to vote for the former president. According to a report by the NGO Center for Countering Digital Hate, Musk’s political posts on X, published from his endorsement of Trump until the end of October, have accumulated as many as 17.1 billion views. In the statement regarding the appointment, Trump added that Musk and Ramaswamy will complete their work in the new department “no later than July 4, 2026.”
