Department of Government Efficiency
In the days after the 2024 Presidential election, President Elect Donald J Trump announced his intention to create a new governmental department that will report directly to the President- the Department of Government Efficiency. This proposed new department will seek to cut government spending through slashing government spending and restructuring of federal agencies. The Department of Government Efficiency also known as DOGE, seeks to make big changes before July 4, 2026, the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America.
To head this robust overhaul of the federal government, President-Elect Trump selected two billionaires- Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. President-Elect Trump announced the two men to head the Department of Government Efficiency stating their roles will be to “provide advice and guidance from outside of Government.” The Department of Government Efficiency will partner with the White House and Office of Management and Budget to “drive large scale structural reform,” all within the goal of completing their tasks by the July 4, 2026 deadline. [1]
Anecdotally, the cryptocurrency- Dogecoin spiked in price following the announcement. Dogecoin, which is a memecoin that is heavily tied to Elon Musk as he has made public comments about the cryptocurrency that has influenced its price over the years. The nickname the “Dogefather” has been attributed to Musk over his dealings with Dogecoin. Now in a continued play on the Doge name, the new Department of Government Efficiency carries the acronym- D.O.G.E. [2]
The Role of The Department of Government Efficiency
Many experts speculate that the Department of Government Efficiency will be an advisory commission formed outside of the scope of the federal government. Many predict that the Department of Government Efficiency will turnover their recommendations to the Office of Management and Budget, which is an office within the executive branch that produces the President’s budget to Congress, as well as ensuring that government agencies comply with the President’s policies. This scenario would make the Department of Government Efficiency more ceremonial than authoritative. [3]
However, the Republican Party won the Presidency, the House, and the Senate in the election. This majority will give the Department of Government Efficiency support in its cause and potentially make the recommended changes easier to implement. It is worth noting that the proposed deadline of July 4, 2026 takes place before the midterm elections, avoiding any balance of power shake ups in the House or Senate. The proposed July 4, 2026 deadline takes place about four months prior to the midterm elections.
Trump on the Department of Government Efficiency
When announcing the creation of the DOGE department, President-Elect Donald J Trump said of Musk and Ramaswamy- “Together, these two wonderful Americans will pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies.” President-Elect Donald Trump also quoted Elon Musk’s previous statement about government reform “this will send shockwaves through the system, and anyone involved in Government waste, which is a lot of people!”
Following the announcement, Ramaswamy posted to X with the phrase he often used during his failed presidential campaign to call for the abolition of federal agencies, writing: “SHUT IT DOWN.”
Potential Roadblocks of the Department of Government Efficiency
Interestingly, Both Musk and Ramaswamy own companies that have government contracts. The announcement of the wo men leading the DOGE, raised questions of potential conflicts of interest. Men who are receiving money from the government while also providing reform advice to the government could be seen in that light. As DOGE forms and begins working, this dynamic is sure to be watched closely by opponents of the Department of Government Efficiency.
The Goals of the Department of Government Efficiency
Back in September of 2024, on campaign, Donald Trump first broached the subject of what would become DOGE by stating “As the first order of business, this commission will develop an action plan to totally eliminate fraud and improper payments within six months,” He went on to explain that “This will save trillions of dollars.”
Before that statement, Musk hosted a live chat with Donald Trump on his social platform, X. In the discussion which happened in August, Musk first suggested Trump form a government efficiency commission and that he would lend his support, to which Trump responded, “I’d love it.” Following this conversation, Musk posted on X an image of himself at a podium labeled Department of Government Efficiency and D.O.G.E., with the caption “I am willing to serve.”
Ramaswamy, on the other hand has made his thoughts clear on government wasteful spending during his presidential campaign where he stated he would eliminate the FBI, the Department of Education, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. A move such as his would eliminate thousands of government jobs and close complete federal agencies.
Donald Trump stated that The Department of Government Efficiency would provide “a smaller Government, with more efficiency and less bureaucracy, will be the perfect gift to America on the 250th Anniversary of The Declaration of Independence. I am confident they will succeed!”
References
- CNN [ Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy Will Lead New ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ in Trump Administration ] November 12, 2024
- CNBC [ Dogecoin spikes after Trump announces a Department of Government Efficiency — DOGE’ in Trump Administration ] November 12, 2024
- The Hill [ Musk’s Bold Plans for ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ Face Roadblocks’ in Trump Administration ] November 14, 2024
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Last Modified: December 17, 2024