NEW YORK – President-elect Donald Trump announced Wednesday that Elon Musk will lead the new Department of Government Effectiveness (DOGE), a non-governmental commission focused on reducing waste and reducing federal bureaucracy.

Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy will work alongside Musk, part of Trump’s effort to integrate private sector strategies into the federal system.

Trump has described DOGE as central to his vision of a simpler, more accountable government.

“I look forward to Elon and Vivek making changes to the federal bureaucracy that will improve efficiency and, at the same time, improve the lives of all Americans.”

The commission’s main goal, according to Trump, is to “liberate our economy and hold the American government accountable to ‘WE THE PEOPLE.’ The deadline for DOGE to provide results is July 4, 2026, to celebrate the country’s 250th Independence Day.

The “Manhattan Project”

Trump has high hopes for DOGE, comparing it to the “Manhattan Project” of that era. The original Manhattan Project, led by scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer and General Leslie Groves, was a secret World War II research effort aimed at developing nuclear weapons. Trump hopes DOGE will achieve similarly transformative results for government. The project resulted in two types of atomic bombs during the war.

Musk welcomed the challenge, adding: “This will send shockwaves through the system and everyone involved in government waste, which is a lot of people!” He later posted on X (formerly Twitter) about the acronym for DOGE, which stands for his favorite cryptocurrency, Dogecoin: “Department of Government Efficiency.”

Trump had previously hinted that Musk could oversee a commission charged with cutting government spending, and Musk claimed he could help cut as much as $2 trillion from the federal budget. His extensive experience running effective operations at Tesla and SpaceX aligns with Trump’s goal for DOGE.

Ramaswamy, a proponent of a smaller federal government, is expected to help resolve regulatory complexities in Washington. Together, Musk and Ramaswamy will focus on identifying areas where the government can reduce spending without affecting essential services.

The Associated Press reported, however, that DOGE could be subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, which would require DOGE to operate with transparency and accountability, including making reports publicly available.

In his statement, Trump said: “They will work together to free our economy and hold the American government accountable to ‘WE THE PEOPLE.’ Their work will be completed no later than July 4, 2026: a smaller government, with more efficiency and less bureaucracy, will be the ideal gift to America on the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. I am convinced that they will succeed! »