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US President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday appointed Elon Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy to head a newly established Department of Government Efficiency, recognizing two prominent supporters from the private sector. In a statement, Trump announced that Musk and Ramaswamy "will lead the charge in dismantling government bureaucracy, reducing excessive regulations, cutting wasteful spending, and restructuring federal agencies." The new department will operate outside traditional government constraints, providing "advice and guidance from outside the government," and will collaborate with the White House and the Office of Management & Budget to implement large-scale structural reforms and introduce an entrepreneurial approach to governance.
Trump emphasized that their work will culminate by July 4, 2026, as a "gift" to the nation on the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Elon Musk, currently the world's richest person according to Forbes, is expected to leverage his influence to benefit his companies and secure favorable government policies. Musk, who contributed millions to Trump's campaign and made public appearances with him, has extensive ties to Washington and a portfolio that includes Tesla, X, and SpaceX.
"This initiative will send shockwaves through the system, particularly affecting those involved in government waste," Musk commented, as per Trump's statement, which likened the new government initiative to "potentially 'The Manhattan Project' of our time," referencing the U.S. effort to develop the atomic bomb that ended World War Two. Ramaswamy, the founder of a pharmaceutical company who ran for the Republican presidential nomination before endorsing Trump, expressed his enthusiasm on X, stating, "We will not go gently, @elonmusk." Musk echoed this sentiment on his X account, adding, "The merch will be (fire)," with three fire emojis, and, "People have no idea how much this will move the needle!" He also posted, "Threat to democracy? Nope, threat to BUREAUCRACY!!!" The acronym of the new department, DOGE, aligns with the name of the cryptocurrency dogecoin, which Musk promotes.
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