Donald Trump recently appointed Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to head the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an initiative created with the goal of drastically transforming the U.S. civil service. Musk, the world’s richest man, and Ramaswamy, an entrepreneur and political activist, have been determined to reduce bureaucracy and government costs, something that was already on Trump’s agenda since the beginning of his campaign.
Elon Musk, known for his disruptive approach at Tesla and SpaceX, is not one to keep quiet. In accepting this role, Musk promised to “shake up the system,” referring to the major changes they seek to impose on government, starting with the massive reduction of regulations and the elimination of “waste” within federal agencies. According to him, this will affect many of those involved in “government waste.” Musk and Ramaswamy will focus on cutting costs, laying off unnecessary employees and transforming federal agencies to run more like efficient businesses.
Ramaswamy, for his part, has also advocated the elimination of agencies such as the FBI, the Department of Education and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, something he had even proposed during his presidential campaign, which he challenged Trump on before endorsing him. Ramaswamy’s core message has been clear: cut the size of the federal government and reduce government spending. His approach has been so radical that he once shared a legal plan that would allow the president to eliminate federal agencies at his discretion, something that could mean massive layoffs.
The creation of this department has an air of urgency, with Trump mentioning that the goal is to achieve these drastic changes before the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence in July 2026. The plan is ambitious: to eradicate fraud and improper payments in six months, thereby saving trillions of dollars over time. For Trump, this is one of the most important steps for the future of the country and his “Save America” movement.
For Musk and Ramaswamy, the task is titanic. The proposal has been compared to the Manhattan Project, the famous project that enabled the U.S. to develop the atomic bomb during World War II, suggesting that this type of reform could radically change the landscape of American government. Instead of running like a lumbering, slow-moving machine, the government would be more nimble, efficient and free of the bureaucratic hurdles that have held back its ability to operate.
In short, the appointment of Musk and Ramaswamy promises to be a turning point in how the U.S. government manages its resources. If successful, it could mean a smaller, less costly and more efficient government. However, this approach may also generate opposition among those who advocate the need for a strong and robust civil service, especially in areas such as education and security. Only time will tell whether this disruptive approach will deliver the results they expect.
