Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy join forces to simplify government and save $2 trillion, but will their plan succeed?
At a Glance
- Musk and Ramaswamy lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under Trump’s administration to cut $2 trillion in spending.
- DOGE acts as an advisory body, not an official department, allowing external advisory roles.
- The initiative involves simplifying the U.S. Tax Code and addressing outdated IT systems.
- DOGE targets defense spending inefficiencies and criticizes foreign aid and telework policies.
The Plan for Federal Downsizing
Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, in collaboration with the new Trump administration, have unveiled a plan to reduce federal spending by $2 trillion through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Although DOGE is not an official government department, it functions as an advisory body, allowing Musk and Ramaswamy to act as advisers. Their approach prioritizes eliminating superfluous expenditures by reviewing sectors such as Defense, Education, and Agriculture.
Musk and Ramaswamy have received official support from President-elect Donald Trump. The initiative has been compared to the “Manhattan Project of our time,” highlighting its ambitious scale. Their approach aims to identify waste within outdated IT systems and excessive telework practices among federal employees. The duo will initially focus on outdated Defense Department operations and simplifying the massive U.S. Tax Code.
If the tax code can’t be written on a single piece of paper and easily understood by all, it’s too complex and rife for cheating via a million exceptions subject to the influence of graft and corruption. Tell me where I’m wrong. https://t.co/Ctf73gg9qw
— Christopher Calicott (@mecee) November 17, 2024
The Specifics and Strategies
DOGE aims to enforce regulatory rescissions, administrative reductions, and cost savings, thereby promoting a principle of limited government. By suggesting that current federal regulations exceed what Congress intended, DOGE advocates for rolling back unnecessary and burdensome regulations. “Let’s do some things to try and make government more efficient — without hurting people,” says Rep. Tom Suozzi.
The initiative received input from lawmakers who encouraged budget cuts in the Department of Education and underused office spaces. These steps are part of a broader effort to address outdated defense strategies, which have seen the Department of Defense failing multiple audits, making it challenging to fully account for its enormous budget.
Billionaire Elon Musk and fellow entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy spent several hours swapping ideas with lawmakers about President-elect Donald Trump's DOGE initiative to dismantle parts of the federal government. https://t.co/ftHSK2bI24
— News 4 Buffalo (@news4buffalo) December 6, 2024
A New Era for Government Efficiency
For Musk and Ramaswamy, the mission goes beyond just fiscal reductions; it seeks a transformation in how the government executes its role. The duo plans to work with the White House’s Office of Management and Budget for structural reductions within the federal system. Moreover, halting the overextension of telework privileges and addressing the alarming issue of federal fraud losses — estimated between $233 billion and $521 billion annually — remain key targets.
“DOGE has a historic opportunity for structural reductions in the federal government” – Musk and Ramaswamy
With these initiatives, DOGE aims to return the funds to the taxpayers. These ambitious plans are set to meet regular scrutiny with engagements expected through public meetings, podcasts, and potential testimonies, making transparency paramount in earning public trust.
