US president-elect Donald Trump has announced that Elon Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy will head the newly established Department of Government Efficiency.
Mr. Musk and Mr. Ramaswamy “will pave the way for my Administration to eliminate government bureaucracy, reduce excessive regulations, cut wasteful spending, and reorganize Federal Agencies,” stated the US President-elect.
Mr. Trump mentioned that their efforts would be completed by July 4, 2026, asserting that a smaller and more efficient government would be a “gift” to the nation on the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
The appointments acknowledge two of Mr. Trump’s staunch supporters from the private sector.
Vivek Ramaswamy campaigned for the Republican presidential nomination against Donald Trump.
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Mr. Musk contributed millions to support Mr. Trump’s presidential campaign and appeared publicly alongside him.
Mr. Trump had previously indicated that he would offer Mr. Musk, the world’s wealthiest individual, a position in his administration focusing on government efficiency.
“This will send shockwaves through the system, and anyone involved in government waste, which is a significant number of people!” the X CEO remarked, according to Mr. Trump’s announcement.
In the statement, the South African-born billionaire referred to the new government initiative as “potentially ‘The Manhattan Project’ of our time,” alluding to the American plan to develop the atomic bomb that played a crucial role in ending World War II.
Mr. Trump has also put forward Peter Hegseth, a Fox News host, to be his Secretary of Defense.
Mr. Hegseth served in Iraq and Afghanistan as a junior officer in the Minnesota National Guard before his tenure at Fox News and has frequently discussed the idea of dismissing generals and admirals he deems woke or politically correct.
He lacks experience in working at the Pentagon.
Later today, Mr. Trump will meet with President Joe Biden in the White House, as part of the process for an orderly transition of power.
Four years prior, then-President Trump declined to hold a similar meeting with Mr. Biden, claiming he had won the election.
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