American billionaire, Elon Musk, has been confirmed as co-leader of Donald Trump’s new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
The president-elect announced Tuesday that Musk, Tesla and X owner and the world’s wealthiest individual, would join former Republican candidate, Vivek Ramaswamy, in leading the department, Sky News reports.
This appointment honours a commitment Trump made to Musk following the billionaire’s endorsement of his campaign, including a significant $119 million (£92 million) spent on canvassing efforts across seven battleground states.
Trump stated that Musk and Ramaswamy “will pave the way for my administration to dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure federal agencies.”
Previously, Musk voiced his wish to reduce “government waste.” In a post on his X platform, he suggested cutting as many as three-quarters of federal departments, stating, “99 is enough.”
He further remarked, “Threat to democracy? Nope, threat to bureaucracy.”
In other appointments, Trump has named Pete Hegseth, Fox News host and National Guard veteran, as defence secretary, and intends to nominate John Ratcliffe, former director of national intelligence, to head the CIA.
The DOGE, although named like an agency, will only offer “advice and guidance” externally.
Trump said it will work with the Office of Management and Budget to “drive large scale structural reform, and create an entrepreneurial approach to government never seen before.”
This setup allows Musk and Ramaswamy to keep their private sector roles without needing Senate confirmation, as they will not be official federal employees.
Reflecting on potential conflicts of interest, federal employees are generally required to disclose assets, though Musk and Ramaswamy’s status might allow them to forgo such disclosures.
Musk responded, saying that the new department would “send shockwaves through the system, and anyone involved in government waste.”
DOGE’s work is set to conclude by 4 July 2026, aligning with the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
Trump added, “A smaller government, with more efficiency and less bureaucracy, will be the perfect gift to America on the 250th Anniversary of The Declaration of Independence. I am confident they will succeed!”
Below is a list of appointments Mr Trump has made for his administration so far:
• Susie Wiles, White House chief of staff
• Pete Hegseth, secretary of defence
• Elon Musk, co-lead Department of Government Efficiency
• Vivek Ramaswamy, co-lead Department of Government Efficiency
• Mike Waltz, national security adviser
• Tom Homan, “border czar”
• Elise Stefanik, United Nations ambassador
• Stephen Miller, deputy chief of staff for policy
• Lee Zeldin, head of the Environmental Protection Agency
• Mike Huckabee, ambassador to Israel
• Steven Witkoff, special envoy to the Middle East
• John Ratcliffe, CIA director
• William McGinley, White House counsel
• Kristi Noem, secretary of homeland security.
