Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy Lead New Effort to Streamline U.S. Government Operations

The Department of Government Efficiency, created by President-elect Trump, faces skepticism over its authority and feasibility.

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, aims to reduce federal spending and bureaucracy under the upcoming Trump administration.
DOGE will primarily recommend cost-cutting measures but lacks statutory authority to implement spending reductions, leaving decisions to Congress.
Initial plans include deploying representatives to major federal agencies, leveraging AI, and focusing on areas like subsidies, staffing, and regulations.
Critics question the feasibility of Musk's earlier claim to cut $2 trillion from the federal budget, especially without touching Social Security or Medicare, which Trump has vowed to protect.
The initiative draws on a network of Musk associates, Silicon Valley figures, and Thiel Foundation alumni, with many pledging to work unpaid under demanding conditions for up to six months.