As the Republican president-elect appoints a number of hard-liner and seasoned individuals to his upcoming cabinet, Donald Trump revealed Tuesday that Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, will head a new US “government efficiency” group charged with reducing federal waste.
During Trump’s campaign, Musk became a crucial ally, allegedly spending well over $100 million to support the Republican candidate and continuously advancing Trump’s candidacy on his platform, X.
In a playful allusion to a cryptocurrency and internet joke, Trump said that Musk and another steadfast buddy, billionaire Vivek Ramaswamy, would head a “Department of Government Efficiency (‘DOGE’)”.
“Together, these two wonderful Americans will pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies,” Trump said in a statement.
By stating that the department “will provide advice and guidance from outside of Government,” he may be able to keep Musk’s financial holdings a secret.
On Wednesday, the 78-year-old Trump will triumphantly return to Washington and meet with President Joe Biden in the Oval Office.
He might also travel to the US Capitol, where his party is expected to maintain control of the House of Representatives after winning a slim Senate majority.
Trump is working fast to solidify an incredible comeback with little over two months to go before he takes office.
Governments worldwide are scrutinizing Trump’s picks for signs of how closely the incoming administration will stick to his promises of an isolationist foreign policy, harsh crackdowns on illegal immigration, and persecution of people he perceives as enemies.
