Musk prepped to shred sector
Donald Trump has handed Elon Musk a central role in a new US Government efficiency drive.
US president-elect Donald Trump has created a new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), appointing billionaire Elon Musk and former Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy to lead it.
The high-profile move aims to dismantle federal bureaucracy and dramatically reduce government spending.
Trump has called the department “a gift” to the US, and given a deadline for it to complete its work by July 4, 2026, on the country’s 250th anniversary.
Musk and Ramaswamy’s mission, Trump says, is to cut excessive regulations, curb waste, and implement an “entrepreneurial approach” across federal agencies.
Operating outside government confines, DOGE will work with the White House and the Office of Management and Budget to drive “structural reform”.
Musk - who supported Trump’s campaign financially and attended public events with him, celebrated his role - saying; “This will send shockwaves through the system, and anyone involved in government waste, which is a lot of people!”
DOGE’s acronym also aligns with Dogecoin, the cryptocurrency Musk has championed online.
Trump’s appointees reflect a significant policy shift.
Pete Hegseth, Fox News commentator and critic of the Department of Defence’s progressive policies, is slated as defence secretary, while former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe has been nominated to lead the CIA.
Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, a strong supporter of Israel, will serve as ambassador to Israel, as Trump reinforces his support for US-Israel relations amidst ongoing conflicts in the region.
Further picks include Florida Senator Marco Rubio as Secretary of State, former Army Green Beret Mike Waltz as National Security Adviser, and former Cabinet Secretary Bill McGinley as White House counsel, revealing a line-up of loyal Trump allies.