Donald Trump, the president-elect of the United States, has announced that both Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will take charge of the newly established Department of Government Efficiency.
In a statement, Mr. Trump declared, “Musk and Ramaswamy will spearhead efforts to trim government red tape, eliminate unnecessary regulations, and overhaul Federal Agencies.” He believes their mission is crucial for streamlining government operations.
Mr. Trump expects their initiatives to wrap up by July 4, 2026. He envisions a more compact and effective government as a “gift” for America’s 250th birthday, commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
These appointments are a strategic nod to two of Trump’s standout allies from the business realm.
Vivek Ramaswamy was a contender in the Republican presidential primaries, standing against Trump.
In the lead-up to this, Musk has generously donated millions to bolster Trump’s presidential campaign and has made several public appearances alongside him.
Previously, Trump hinted at appointing Musk, the richest individual on the planet, to focus on enhancing government efficiency. Musk had an enthusiastic reaction, stating, “This will send shockwaves through the system, and there are numerous folks in government wasting resources!”
Further accentuating the significance of this new venture, Musk referred to the initiative as “potentially the ‘Manhattan Project’ of our era,” drawing a parallel to the historical U.S. effort that culminated in the atomic bomb, pivotal in concluding World War II.
Alongside these announcements, Trump has also put forward the name of Peter Hegseth, a Fox News host, to take over as his Secretary of Defense.
Prior to his media career, Hegseth served as a junior officer in the Minnesota National Guard, with deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has gained notoriety for his outspoken views on military leadership, often targeting what he perceives as “woke” generals and admirals. Notably, however, he has no practical experience within the Pentagon.
Later today, Trump is scheduled to meet with President Joe Biden at the White House—a step in the process of a smooth transfer of power. This contrasts sharply with the event four years earlier when Trump refused to meet with Biden, continuing to assert that he had won the election.
For this updated story, additional insights were garnered from Reuters.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
