In a post-election upheaval, US President-elect Donald Trump has tapped Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, alongside entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, to lead the new “Department of Government Effectiveness” (DOGE). This ambitious initiative aims to streamline federal operations, cut wasteful spending and significantly reduce government bureaucracy. Trump’s transition team confirmed the appointments in a Nov. 12 statement, emphasizing the need for a new entrepreneurial approach to running government.

“This will send a shockwave through the system,” Musk reportedly said, affirming his commitment to eliminating inefficiencies. Trump likened the department’s mission to a “Manhattan Project” of government reform, signaling the scale of the task Musk and Ramaswamy will undertake.

DOGE is seen as a bold effort to reduce the federal government’s $6.5 trillion in annual spending by removing outdated regulations and promoting private sector efficiency in federal operations. With this project, the Trump administration is relying heavily on Silicon Valley-style disruption to manage and modernize government processes. This effort will involve collaboration with external advisors and partnerships with federal agencies like the Office of Management and Budget, aimed at introducing entrepreneurial practices to the highest levels of government.

Musk and Ramaswamy’s work is part of an ambitious timeline, with a goal of completing the redesign by July 4, 2026, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence. Trump expressed confidence in their ability to lead a structural transformation that, in his vision, “will make the American government accountable to WE, THE PEOPLE.”