WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald J. Trump announced on Tuesday that he has named Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and X, to co-lead an initiative aimed at overhauling government efficiency. Musk will be joined by former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy in leading a newly created Department of Government Efficiency, an advisory body designed to work outside of traditional government structures.
The announcement hands significant influence to Musk, the world’s richest person, who supported Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign financially and through public appearances. Trump lauded Musk and Ramaswamy’s leadership, stating that they “will pave the way for my administration to dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excessive regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure federal agencies.”
The new department will serve in an advisory capacity, meaning Musk and Ramaswamy’s roles will not require Senate confirmation and will allow Musk to continue his leadership of Tesla, SpaceX, and X. According to Trump’s statement, the department will work closely with the White House and the Office of Management and Budget to enact “large-scale structural reform” and bring an “entrepreneurial approach” to government, which Trump described as unprecedented.
Musk, a vocal supporter of deregulation, has criticized federal oversight of his businesses, particularly in the areas of space exploration and autonomous vehicle technology. Trump, who has praised Musk’s innovations in space and electric vehicles, invited Musk on stage at several campaign events and highlighted his achievements.
Despite shared enthusiasm for deregulation, Trump and Musk hold differing views on climate policy. Musk, a proponent of clean energy and carbon reduction, has promoted the expansion of electric vehicle technology, while Trump has pledged to cut climate-related funding and has opposed California’s efforts to mandate all-electric vehicles. Nevertheless, Musk’s support for Trump has remained strong, with Musk declaring at a recent rally that Trump “must win to preserve the Constitution.”
During the 2024 campaign, Musk became a prominent ally of Trump, appearing at rallies and donating $1 million to a supporter’s fund, signaling the tech mogul’s active role in the incoming administration.
