Trump says Musk, Ramaswamy will form outside group to advise White House on government efficiency

President-elect Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that Elon Musk and former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy will lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency.” 

The acronym “DOGE” is a nod to Musk’s favourite cryptocurrency, dogecoin. Trump said in a statement that Musk and Ramaswamy will work from outside the government to offer the White House “advice and guidance.” 

Trump added that the organisation will partner with the Office of Management and Budget to “drive large scale structural reform and create an entrepreneurial approach to Government never seen before.”  

It’s not clear how the organisation will operate. It could come under US’ Federal Advisory Committee Act, which dictates how external groups that advise the government must operate and be accountable to the public. 

Federal employees are generally required to disclose their assets and entanglements to ward off any potential conflicts of interest, and to divest significant holdings relating to their work. Because Musk and Ramaswamy would not be formal federal workers, they would not face those requirements or ethical limitations. 

Musk posted on X: “Department of Government Efficiency. The merch will be (fire emojis).” Later he added: “Threat to democracy? Nope, threat to BUREAUCRACY!!!”  

Musk has been a constant presence at Mar-a-Lago since Trump won the presidential election. 

The president-elect has often said he would give Musk a formal role overseeing a group that could recommend ways to slash government spending, but made it clear that Musk would likely not hold a full-time position given his other commitments.