US President-Elect Trump Appoint Elon Musk to Key Role, Billionaire Reacts

• U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has announced the appointment of Elon Musk to lead the newly created Department of Government Efficiency
• The Tesla and SpaceX founder will be working with the biotech investor Vivek Ramaswamy at the White House once the new agency is approved
• Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are saddled with the responsibility of dismantling the government bureaucracy and reducing the cost of governance

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Donald Trump, the United States president-elect, has appointed billionaire Elon Musk as the head of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) ahead of his forthcoming administration.

Trump also announced that the biotech investor Vivek Ramaswamy would work with the founder of Tesla and SpaceX on the project, adding that the primary objective of the new department was to "dismantle" government bureaucracy.

Responsibilities of Elon Musk in Trump government

The duo will be responsible for slashing excess regulations and wasteful expenditures. This move is part of Trump's plan to drive large-scale structural reform, with Musk and Ramaswamy providing external advice to the White House.

Musk, a mega-donor to Trump's campaign, has been vocal about reducing federal spending. He proposes cuts of at least $2 trillion, nearly a third of the government's budget. He also suggests eliminating hundreds of federal agencies, citing overlapping responsibilities. He had shared the announcement letter on his X page as his reaction to the development.

According to the BBC, Trump has likened the DOGE initiative to the Manhattan Project, a top-secret program that developed the first nuclear weapons.

When will Musk and Ramaswamy complete their tasks?

Musk and Ramaswamy's work is expected to conclude by July 4, 2026. They aim to present a smaller, more efficient government as a "gift to America" on the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Ramaswamy has previously proposed drastic measures, including firing over 75% of the federal workforce and closing several major agencies.

The appointments have sparked mixed reactions, with some questioning potential conflicts of interest, given Musk's business interests and Ramaswamy's past presidential bid. Nonetheless, Trump's move signals a significant shift in his administration's approach to government reform.

See the letter as shared by Elon Musk here:

When and where Trump will be sworn in

Legit.ng earlier reported that Donald Trump, the re-elected president of the United States, is expected to be sworn into office on Monday, January 20, 2025.

Trump's inauguration is expected to be held at the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., the usual venue for presidential inaugurations.

Recall that Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris in the November 5 presidential election in the United States.

Proofreading by Nkem Ikeke, journalist and copy editor at Legit.ng.