In a bid to tackle what he called “historic inefficiencies” in the federal government, President-elect Donald Trump announced the creation of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to cut wasteful spending and streamline operations.
The initiative will be spearheaded by entrepreneur Elon Musk and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, marking a sweeping effort to address ballooning national debt and inefficiencies in the federal system.
Ramaswamy, appearing on Fox News Sunday, outlined DOGE’s mission to identify and eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse within federal agencies. He emphasized that immediate action will focus on executive branch failures and inefficiencies, with a goal of implementing quick, impactful reforms.
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“We’re not here to cut ribbons; we’re here to cut costs,” Ramaswamy said. “This isn’t about incremental change. Voters gave us a mandate for sweeping reform, and we’re determined to deliver.”
The United States faces unprecedented financial challenges, with the national debt surpassing $36 trillion and annual interest on the debt nearing $1 trillion. DOGE’s mission, according to Ramaswamy, is to reign in wasteful spending through a combination of executive actions and legislative groundwork.
One priority, Ramaswamy explained, is addressing inefficiencies in defense spending. “The Pentagon has failed its seventh consecutive audit. Nearly a trillion dollars in budget, and they can’t even tell you where it’s going. That’s unacceptable,” he said.
DOGE will also take aim at over-billing by federal contractors and the expansion of unelected bureaucracies, which Ramaswamy argues have diluted accountability and undermined democracy.
Downsizing and Decentralizing
Ramaswamy revealed plans for significant reductions in federal agencies and workforce, with a focus on relocating agencies out of Washington, D.C., to improve accountability. “If federal employees had to show up to work like ordinary Americans, many agencies wouldn’t even need to be in D.C.,” he said.
The initiative includes exploring the closure of entire departments, such as the Department of Education, with responsibilities potentially reverting to states. DOGE also aims to simplify and downsize other federal entities, from health care oversight to agriculture, by aligning them closer to the communities they serve.
Public Support and Congressional Challenges
While acknowledging the likelihood of pushback from entrenched bureaucrats and Congress, Ramaswamy expressed confidence in public support for the initiative. “The American people understand their taxpayer dollars are being wasted, and they want accountability,” he said.
With a Republican-controlled Congress and a conservative Supreme Court, Ramaswamy believes the political environment is conducive to swift and transformative action. “If we don’t downsize the federal government now, it may never happen,” he said.
A Bold Timeline for Reform
Ramaswamy and Musk have set an ambitious deadline to complete their work by July 4, 2026, emphasizing their intent to avoid creating another long-term federal bureaucracy. “We’re here to fix the problem, not to perpetuate it,” Ramaswamy said.
READ: California Rep Alarmed That Musk, Ramaswamy’s DOGE Could Put Education Department Out Of Business
As DOGE prepares to launch in January, Ramaswamy expressed optimism about the initiative’s potential to not only cut costs but also restore trust in government. “This is about efficiency, but it’s also about accountability,” he concluded. “We owe it to the American people to ensure their government works for them—not against them.”
The DOGE initiative signals a dramatic shift in federal policy and could redefine the landscape of U.S. governance in the coming years.
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