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- DOGE Directive: Musk and Ramaswamy's Mission to Modernize Government
DOGE Directive: Musk and Ramaswamy's Mission to Modernize Government
Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy lead the bold new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), aiming to slash waste, streamline agencies, and revolutionize federal bureaucracy.
What Happened?
President-elect Donald Trump has named Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead the newly created Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. The purpose of DOGE, named after the popular meme coin, is a bold initiative designed to overhaul federal bureaucracy and reduce wasteful government spending.
Musk, who will head the department, initially proposed the idea to Trump during a conversation on X back in August, when Trump was still running for office.
Trump has praised DOGE as a way to 'dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure federal agencies,' while introducing a new 'entrepreneurial approach' to managing the government.
DOGE will not be a traditional federal department, but an independent commission that will work alongside the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Its mission will be to identify and recommend cuts in spending and funding to what they deem 'government efficiencies.'
They've also given themselves a firm deadline of July 4th, 2026, which aligns with America's 250th birthday. The creation of the commission has already set off a wave of public interest, some of which is partially due to its name, which is a nod to Musk's favorite meme coin.
Why it Matters
Musk has embraced his role with enthusiasm. He has not been shy about what his plans are for DOGE. Its primary focus will be on slashing excessive regulations, which he has gone on record to describe as 'slow strangulation.'
Musk also aims to restructure the federal government, by significantly reducing the total number of federal agencies. He suggests that fewer than 100 would suffice as opposed to the current total number which is over 400. He believes such a reduction would vastly improve both efficiency and accountability.
Reigning in federal spending is another key priority. The federal government currently spends $6.75 trillion on an annual basis, with $659 billion alone going towards interest on the national debt. Musk has repeatedly warned against the country's fiscal unsustainability, stating, 'If we don’t [reduce spending], we’re going to bankrupt the country.'
Drawing on his private-sector experience, Musk referenced his drastic cost-cutting at X, where he reduced the workforce by 80% to address a severe cash flow crisis. Although it was 'not fun at all,' he called it necessary and sees similar measures as critical for the federal government.
Ramaswamy, a tech entrepreneur and former Republican presidential candidate, shares Musk's aggressive reform agenda. He plans to ‘crowdsource examples of government waste, fraud, and abuse,’ inviting Americans to participate in the process.
Ramaswamy highlighted over $500 billion spent annually on expired federal programs, calling it ‘totally nuts.’ He pledged to defund these programs and challenge politicians to justify their continuation.
How it Affects You
While both leaders have been strong proponents of a leaner federal workforce, Ramaswamy has proposed firing up to 75% of federal employees, arguing that ‘25% of the people do 80 or 90% of the useful work.’ This echoes Musk’s workforce reductions at X, which he framed as necessary for survival.
With massive spending and a history of waste to tackle, Musk and Ramaswamy aim to reshape the federal government while addressing longstanding concerns over inefficiency and fiscal responsibility.