The elected president of the United States, Donald Trump, announced on Tuesday the appointment of billionaire Elon Musk to lead the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Musk will be joined in this position by Vivek Ramaswamy.
The measure, aimed at transforming the state apparatus, seeks to reduce bureaucracy and improve administrative efficiency.
"I am pleased to announce that the great Elon Musk, in collaboration with American patriot Vivek Ramaswamy, will lead the Department of Government Efficiency," the Republican stated in a message posted on his social network, Truth Social.
"Together, these two wonderful Americans will pave the way for my administration to dismantle bureaucratic red tape, eliminate excessive regulations, cut unnecessary expenditures, and restructure the federal agencies essential to the 'Save America' movement," he added.
Trump stated that DOGE could potentially become "The Manhattan Project of our time," referring to the World War II program through which the U.S. government developed the atomic bomb.
"Republican politicians have long dreamed of the goals of DOGE. To drive this drastic change, the Department of Government Efficiency will provide advice and guidance from outside the government and partner with the White House and the Office of Management and Budget to promote a large-scale structural reform and create a business-like approach to government never seen before," noted the president-elect.
"I hope that Elon and Vivek will make changes to the federal bureaucracy aimed at efficiency while also improving the lives of all Americans. It is important to emphasize that we will eliminate the massive waste and fraud that exist in our annual government spending of $6.5 trillion. They will work together to free our economy and hold the government of the United States accountable to 'We, the people,'" he added.
The Republican president noted that the work of Musk and Ramaswamy will conclude no later than July 4, 2026.
"A smaller government, with more efficiency and less bureaucracy, will be the perfect gift for the United States on the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. I am sure they will succeed!" Trump concluded.
The same statement quotes Elon Musk as saying, “This will cause shockwaves throughout the system and among all those involved in government waste, which are many.”
Musk, known for his disruptive business vision, expressed confidence that his efforts alongside Ramaswamy will significantly contribute to reducing expenses and eliminating inefficient practices within the government apparatus.
The magnate shared Trump's statement on X, and Ramaswamy did the same, also predicting that the crackdown on bureaucracy will be significant.
"In the last two years, the Supreme Court has ruled that the administrative state is behaving in an extremely illegal manner. However, punishing the bureaucracy will not solve the problem; the only correct response is a massive reduction in personnel," the co-leader of the new Department anticipated in another post.
Musk, Give MAGA
Musk, who describes himself as 'Dark MAGA' (Make America Great Again), has been a supporter of Trump for a relatively short time.
In the past, he donated modest sums to both Republicans and Democrats, including $5,000 to Hillary Clinton in 2016, according to records. He did not contribute to Trump's political efforts until this year, according to federal disclosures on campaign finances.
The South African-born magnate grew increasingly close to Trump during the final months of the presidential campaign.
He created a political action committee to attract more voters for the then-candidate and made substantial donations to his campaign.
He also participated in several rallies for the Republican Party and attended the victory celebration on election night, November 5th.
The relationship between both leaders has also been strengthened by Musk's acquisition of the platform X (formerly Twitter), a space where the entrepreneur has advocated for free speech and criticized censorship on social media.
For Trump, this partnership is crucial, as he believes Musk has the ability to connect with a segment of young voters who share his vision and appreciate his critical stance on excessive regulation of digital platforms.
His support in the campaign provided Trump with a clear entry into the world of young men who admire Musk.
Trump also benefited from the fact that Musk owns X to eliminate many of the rules that hindered Trump before he was banned from the platform in 2021.
Like many conservatives, Musk is a strong critic of social media's efforts to combat misinformation, arguing that such initiatives amount to government-sponsored censorship.
This appointment is part of a series of key designations that Trump has begun as preparation for his second term, focused on recruiting loyal collaborators committed to his vision of governance.
The elected president is forming a team that ensures an administration in line with his focus on efficiency and austerity.
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