What is DOGE?

In the lead-up to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s second term, there’s a new initiative called DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency), spearheaded by Vivek Ramaswamy and Elon Musk. The goal of DOGE is to overhaul and improve the efficiency of the U.S. federal government’s operations.

Details about DOGE are scarce at the moment, but the initiative has already garnered significant attention. In November, a Congressional caucus called Delivering Outstanding Government Efficiency was formed, signaling strong political support. This suggests that DOGE is expected to become a major focus in January, once Trump takes office again.

Ramaswamy and Musk have already begun their pitch, meeting with Republican lawmakers on December 5. The House Speaker, the third-highest-ranking official in the U.S., also made a statement on Musk’s platform X, hinting at the revitalization of government efficiency.

Some of the proposed ideas from the pair include:

• A 75% reduction in the federal workforce

• A $2 trillion cut to federal spending

• The elimination of entire agencies, including the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

These proposals are bold and would require approval from Congress, which is why Ramaswamy and Musk are actively meeting with Congressional delegates. However, many in Washington remain wary about the potential impact and challenges these measures may bring.

As for how Musk and Ramaswamy manage their business empires while also navigating this political journey? The answer lies in their ability to hire capable individuals to run their businesses, allowing them to travel and focus on other ventures without being bogged down by day-to-day operations.