Trump’s Suggested ‘Department of Government Efficiency’: What It Includes and What It Excludes.


No one is becoming more influential as a result of the 2024 Presidential election than **Elon Musk**, the billionaire proprietor of **X** (formerly known as Twitter). Musk’s achievements are not solely linked to potential federal contracts or legal protections that might arise from his support of the Republican party—he is also acquiring considerable **political power**.

On November 12, President-elect **Donald Trump** declared that Musk, along with **Vivek Ramaswamy**—a pharmaceutical tycoon and ex-Republican presidential candidate—would helm a new agency tasked with “large-scale structural reform” of the federal government. This new entity, humorously dubbed the **”Department of Government Efficiency”** (or **DOGE**), is set to concentrate on optimizing government functions.

### A Contemporary “Manhattan Project”

Trump has likened the formation of DOGE to the **Manhattan Project**, the covert U.S. program that created the atomic bomb during World War II. However, rather than focusing on weaponry, DOGE is envisioned as a mechanism to tackle what Musk and Ramaswamy refer to as **”corruption”** within the federal bureaucracy. The agency will be directed by what they describe as a **”band of small-government revolutionaries.”**

But what will DOGE actually accomplish, and how might an “efficient” government under Musk’s guidance appear?

### What Will the ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ Do?

Contrary to its title, the **Department of Government Efficiency** is not an official department but an **advisory commission**. It will provide counsel to the president concerning government spending and regulations. While Congress retains oversight over significant budgetary matters, advisory groups like DOGE can sway policy under the **Federal Advisory Committee Act**. Both Trump and Musk have indicated that DOGE will possess the power to recommend reductions in federal expenditures.

Musk has further suggested that DOGE will operate a **public scoreboard** to monitor its spending reductions, inviting public input. He even hinted at a **leaderboard** to display the “most ridiculously wasteful spending” of taxpayer dollars, assuring that the **”entertainment value will be extraordinary.”**

### Streamlining Government: An Established Idea

The concept of leveraging private-sector knowledge to enhance the efficiency of the federal government is not a novel one. The **Office of Management and Budget (OMB)** presently aligns the president’s policy, budget, and regulatory objectives. However, Trump’s selections—Musk and Ramaswamy—are anticipated to introduce an **”entrepreneurial mindset”** to government reform on an unmatched scale. They are set to collaborate with the OMB to realize Trump’s aspiration for a **”smaller”** government.

Trump has stressed that this initiative will aim at **reducing bureaucracy**, **eliminating excessive regulations**, **cutting down wasteful spending**, and **overhauling federal agencies**. The president-elect has outlined a timeline for DOGE’s operations to continue until **July 4, 2026**. Ramaswamy has mentioned that the agency’s inaugural task will involve **crowdsourcing instances of government waste, fraud, and abuse** from the general public.

### Mixed Responses

The announcement of DOGE has generated both support and dissent from across the political landscape. **Democratic Congressman Dean Phillips** from Minnesota showed support on Twitter, stating, “I’m a Democrat for Government Efficiency.” Conversely, **Senator Elizabeth Warren** of Massachusetts criticized the agency’s shared leadership, mockingly commenting, “The Office of Government Efficiency is off to a great beginning with two leaders: two individuals to do the work of one. Yes, this seems REALLY efficient.”

### What’s on DOGE’s Agenda?

DOGE’s purpose resonates with the regulatory eliminations that characterized Trump’s initial term, which targeted federal safety regulations, **climate policies**, and even **space endeavors**. Musk and Ramaswamy, both recognized for their passion for **”streamlining”** workforces—often via layoffs—are anticipated to pursue this trajectory further.

#### Reducing Federal Agencies

During his first term, Trump sought to cut back on more than a dozen federal agencies but encountered significant obstacles. Both Musk and Ramaswamy have articulated a desire to reinvigorate this initiative. Musk has previously stated his intention to decrease the number of federal agencies from **400 to 99**.

Ramaswamy has also advocated for the elimination of several agencies, including the **FBI**, the **Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives**, the **Nuclear Regulatory Commission**, and the **Department of Education**. He has proposed curbing the authority of the **Federal Reserve**.

Musk has mirrored these sentiments, particularly concerning the **Department of Education**, which he has disparaged as not delivering **”great value for the cost.”**

#### Budget Reductions and Job Cuts

The Trump administration has been outspoken in its endorsement of federal budget reductions, and Musk has joined this chorus, asserting he could…