President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Elon Musk to lead a newly established “Department of Government Efficiency.” This department aims to “dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure federal agencies.” The Tesla CEO and owner of X will head the initiative alongside former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, as Trump announced in a statement on Truth Social.
The precise scope of the role remains somewhat ambiguous. According to Trump’s press release, “the Department of Government Efficiency will provide advice and guidance from outside of the government, and will partner with the White House and Office of Management & Budget to drive large-scale structural reform and create an entrepreneurial approach to government never seen before.” The release also noted that “their work will conclude no later than July 4, 2026.”
Musk shared the announcement on X but did not specify how this role might affect his responsibilities at his various companies. Musk, who has invested millions of dollars into a Super PAC supporting Trump’s campaign, has previously expressed a desire to collaborate with Trump on reducing government spending. However, he humorously mentioned the potential for “merch” related to the initiative, reflecting on Trump’s statement that “Republican politicians have long aspired to the objectives of ‘DOGE’.”
