In a move aimed at restructuring federal bureaucracy, former President Donald J. Trump announced that Elon Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy would lead a newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). This department, according to Trump’s statement, is a key pillar of his “Save America” agenda, designed to reduce government expenditure, eliminate bureaucratic inefficiencies, and streamline federal agency operations.
The statement described the new department as potentially “the Manhattan Project of our time,” with Musk and Ramaswamy positioned to drive “large-scale structural reform” across government institutions. As Trump outlined, the aim is to dismantle what he called “wasteful expenditures” within the $6.5 trillion federal budget and promote an “entrepreneurial approach” to governance. Musk expressed optimism about the ambitious initiative, saying it would “send shockwaves through the system” and target the “massive waste and fraud” he perceives in government spending.
The DOGE, Trump suggests, will bring an unconventional approach by drawing expertise from outside the traditional confines of government. Working closely with the Office of Management and Budget, Musk and Ramaswamy are expected to develop new strategies and policies to reshape federal functions, making them leaner and more accountable.
This restructuring initiative is aimed at aligning the government with private sector efficiency standards, a long-cherished goal among many conservative circles. As Trump framed it, the changes would ultimately make the U.S. government “accountable to ‘We the People’.” The timeline for DOGE’s work is set to conclude by July 4, 2026, which Trump envisions as a gift to America on the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.