United States President-elect Donald Trump has announced that tech billionaire Elon Musk will serve in the newly established Department of Government Efficiency. Musk will be joined by American patriot Vivek Ramaswamy, and together they will lead the department’s mission to overhaul the U.S. government.

Trump, who defeated Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, unveiled this significant development on November 12, 2024, in a statement shared through Musk’s X (formerly Twitter) handle. The new department, popularly referred to as DOGE, will work closely with the White House and the Office of Management and Budget to pursue structural reforms aimed at reshaping government operations and making federal agencies more efficient.

“I am pleased to announce that the great Elon Musk, working in conjunction with American patriot Vivek Ramaswamy, will lead the Department of Government Efficiency (‘DOGE’). Together, these two wonderful Americans will pave the way for my administration to dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excessive regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure federal agencies — essential to the ‘Save America’ movement. This will send shockwaves through the system, and anyone involved in government waste, which is a lot of people!” said Trump.

In his statement, Musk expressed confidence that their leadership will result in one of the most significant transformations in U.S. history. “It will become, potentially, ‘The Manhattan Project’ of our time,” Musk stated. “Republican politicians have dreamed about the objectives of ‘DOGE’ for a very long time. To drive this kind of drastic change, the Department of Government Efficiency will provide advice and guidance from outside of government and will partner with the White House and the Office of Management and Budget to drive large-scale structural reform and create an entrepreneurial approach to government never seen before.”

The announcement marks a bold step in Trump’s commitment to reduce waste and inefficiency in the federal government. He emphasized that the department’s work will help eliminate the massive fraud and waste that exists within the $6.5 trillion of annual government spending. Musk, the owner of X, Tesla, and Starlink, alongside Ramaswamy, will spearhead efforts to make the U.S. government more accountable to the people it serves.

Trump, known for his anti-bureaucracy stance, envisions the Department of Government Efficiency as a pivotal part of his administration’s agenda. “I look forward to Elon and Vivek making changes to the federal bureaucracy with an eye on efficiency and, at the same time, making life better for all Americans,” Trump added. “Their work will conclude no later than July 4, 2026. 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!”

The appointments of Musk and Ramaswamy come as part of Trump’s larger strategy to streamline government operations. The president-elect also introduced several other key appointments to his cabinet, including Lee Zeldin as the Environmental Protection Agency Administrator and Mike Waltz as National Security Advisor.

Musk, known for his innovations in technology and space exploration, has been an outspoken supporter of Trump and even contributed $75 million to pro-Trump spending groups. Ramaswamy, a well-known figure in conservative circles, has been instrumental in shaping policy discussions around economic efficiency and government reform. Together, they will lead a government efficiency initiative that could redefine how the U.S. federal system operates in the coming years.

As the department begins its work in early 2025, its leaders will focus on reducing inefficiency, restructuring agencies, and implementing a more results-oriented approach to governance. The creation of the Department of Government Efficiency is expected to become a cornerstone of Trump’s second administration, with the ultimate goal of providing a leaner, more agile government that works better for the American people.

With the historic 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence on the horizon, the work of Musk and Ramaswamy could mark a defining moment in the nation’s ongoing pursuit of a government that is truly “of the people, by the people, and for the people.”