President-elect Donald Trump announced that Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will co-lead a newly created “Department of Government Efficiency” focused on minimising federal waste, reducing bureaucracy, and restructuring government agencies.
This initiative aligns with Trump’s goal of cutting federal spending and bureaucracy, but experts are sceptical about achieving Musk’s $2 trillion savings target without drastic cuts to programs like Social Security and defence.
Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, envisions significant deregulation and transparency, promising online tracking of federal expenses and a “leaderboard” highlighting wasteful spending.
Ramaswamy, a former Republican primary candidate who advocated for downsising government and eliminating certain agencies, echoes this sentiment with his call to “SHUT IT DOWN” on social media.
Although the initiative aims to curb fraud and streamline operations, many have raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest given Musk’s current government contracts and his close ties to federal projects.
Union leaders, including the American Federation of Government Employees, argue that the commission’s real objective may be corporate profit rather than public benefit, calling it a threat to job security and federal programs.
Trump has set a July 2026 deadline for this department to deliver results, marking it as part of his long-term vision to mark America’s 250th anniversary with a smaller, more efficient government.
Source:
CNN Image:
Deadline
