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Department of Government Efficiency

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"D.O.G.E." redirects here. For the meme, see Doge (meme). For other uses, see Doge (disambiguation).

Department of Government Efficiency
AbbreviationDOGE
FormationAnnounced on November 12, 2024; yet to be established
Key people
Co-commissioners:
Websitex.com/DOGE

The Department of Government Efficiency[a] (DOGE) is a planned United States presidential advisory commission announced by Donald Trump, the president-elect of the United States, in preparation for his second term as U.S. president. It will be led by the billionaire businessmen Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. Despite its name, it is not expected to be a federal executive department and its formation is not expected to require approval from the U.S. Congress.

Musk has stated that he believes such a commission could reduce the U.S. federal budget by $2 trillion, which would be a reduction of almost one third from its 2023 total. Jamie Dimon, the chief executive officer of JPMorgan Chase, has supported the idea. Some commentators questioned whether DOGE is a conflict of interest for Musk given that his companies are contractors to the federal government.

The department's name is a backronym referencing Dogecoin, a cryptocurrency supported by Musk.[1]

Functions

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Despite the name, it will not be a federal executive department, which are created through an act of Congress, and is to be an advisory body operating outside of government.[2] According to CBS News, it may operate under the Federal Advisory Committee Act.[3]

Vox said that the body is "unlikely to have any regulatory teeth on its own, but there's little doubt that it can have influence on the incoming administration and how it will determine its budgets".[4]

Donald Trump said the body would help to "dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures and restructure federal agencies". He also stated that Musk and Ramaswamy will work with the Office of Management and Budget to address what he called "massive waste and fraud" in government spending.[5]

History

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AI-generated advertisements for the department posted on X by Ramaswamy and Musk

In August 2024, Trump said at a campaign event that, if he were elected, he would be open to giving Musk an advisory role.[6] In response, Musk wrote a post on X saying "I am willing to serve", along with an AI-created image of him standing in front of a lectern marked "Department of Government Efficiency".[1]

Javier Milei, the president of Argentina, stated that, prior to the official announcement of the creation of DOGE, Elon Musk had called Federico Sturzenegger, Argentina's Minister of Deregulation and Transformation of the State, to discuss imitating his ministry's model in the United States.[7] The idea of a DOGE has been linked to Trump's campaign promises to cut federal spending and reduce the size of government and the size of the federal fiscal deficit.[8] Musk has suggested that the former U.S. representative and presidential candidate Ron Paul could work with the department.[9][10]

Leadership

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Trump selected Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to serve as DOGE's leadership.

On November 12, 2024, Trump announced his intention to form a Department of Government Efficiency under the leadership of Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy.[11] Trump stated that the entity's work will "conclude" no later than July 4, 2026, the 250th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Declaration of Independence,[12] also coinciding with America's semiquincentennial celebrations and a proposed "Great American Fair".[13] Trump called the proposed results of the department "the perfect gift to America".

Potential impact

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An infographic on outlays and revenues in the 2023 U.S. federal budget

Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase, the largest American bank, has supported the idea of creating the department to improve government competency.[14]

On October 28, 2024, at a Trump rally in Madison Square Garden, Musk stated his belief that DOGE could remove US$2 trillion from the U.S. federal budget.[15] Musk has not specified whether these savings would be made over a single year or a longer period.[16] Maya MacGuineas of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget has said that this saving is "absolutely doable" over a period of 10 years, but it would be difficult to do in a single year "without compromising some of the fundamental objectives of the government that are widely agreed upon".[17]

The New York Times questioned whether Musk's companies being contractors to the federal government causes a conflict of interest with his proposed work in DOGE.[18] Musk has described deregulation as the only path to the SpaceX Mars colonization program, and promised he will "get the government off people's back and out of their pocket".[19]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Also referred to as Government Efficiency Commission

References

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  1. ^ a b Cameron, Hugh (August 20, 2024). "Elon Musk 'Willing to Serve' in Trump Cabinet". Newsweek. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  2. ^ Dwoskin, Elizabeth (November 12, 2024). "Trump taps Musk, Ramaswamy to oversee 'drastic' changes to U.S. government". Washington Post. Retrieved November 12, 2024. In his announcement, Trump proposed the creation of an advisory body, operating outside government. Though it has the word "department" in its name, it would not be a government department — those are created by congressional authorization.
  3. ^ Picchi, Aimee (November 14, 2024). "What to know about Trump's Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
  4. ^ Fayyad, Abdallah (November 13, 2024). "Trump tapped Musk to co-lead the "Department of Government Efficiency." What the heck is that?". Vox. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
  5. ^ Faguy, Ana; FitzGerald, James (November 13, 2024). "Donald Trump picks Elon Musk for US government cost-cutting role". BBC News. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  6. ^ Shepardson, David (August 20, 2024). "Trump says he may end EV tax credit; is open to naming Elon Musk as an adviser". Reuters.
  7. ^ "Milei brindó un nuevo apoyo a Sturzenegger y afirmó que Elon Musk imitará su gestión en EEUU". infobae (in European Spanish). November 8, 2024. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  8. ^
  9. ^ "Ron Paul vows to join Elon Musk, help eliminate government waste in a Trump admin". The Hill. November 5, 2024.
  10. ^ Healy, Patricia. "Elon Musk puts spotlight on ... Department of Government Efficiency? | Cumberland Comment". USA TODAY. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  11. ^ Beech, Eric (November 12, 2024). "Trump says Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy will lead the Department of Government Efficiency". Reuters.
  12. ^ Nazzaro, Miranda (November 13, 2024). "Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy to lead Trump's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)". The Hill. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  13. ^ Henderson, O. Kay (November 7, 2024). "Trump's 'Great American Fair' idea on Iowa State Fairgrounds recirculates". Radio Iowa. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  14. ^ Bharade, Aditi (September 25, 2024). "Jamie Dimon says he likes Elon Musk's idea to start a DOGE, or Department of Government Efficiency". Business Insider. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  15. ^ "WATCH LIVE: Trump holds campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in New York" (video). youtube.com. PBS NewsHour. October 28, 2024.
  16. ^ Chu, Ben (November 13, 2024). "Can Elon Musk cut $2 trillion from US government spending?". BBC News. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
  17. ^ Folley, Aris (November 3, 2024). "Elon Musk draws skepticism with call for $2 trillion in spending cuts". The Hill. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
  18. ^ Lipton, Eric; Fahrenthold, David A.; Krolik, Aaron; Grind, Kirsten. "U.S. Agencies Fund, and Fight With, Elon Musk. A Trump Presidency Could Give Him Power Over Them".
  19. ^
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