In an article in the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) , billionaire Elon Musk said he and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy will focus on reducing federal regulations and reforming the way the administrative system operates.
“We are entrepreneurs, not politicians. We will serve as outside volunteers, not as officials or federal employees,” Musk and Ramaswamy told the WSJ , marking the first time the two have detailed their roles leading the Office of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
DOGE is expected to act more as an advisory group than an official body, and will compile a list of regulations that President Trump can unilaterally repeal.
“When the president invalidates thousands of these regulations, there will inevitably be accusations of executive overreach. This is really to correct past overreach where regulations were enacted without Congress,” Musk and Ramaswamy explain.
The two businessmen stressed that cutting regulations would not only streamline the bureaucracy but also pave the way for significant staff reductions in federal agencies, while aiming to cut more than $500 billion in government spending.
Cuts in spending could include more funding for public broadcasting (radio, television) and international aid.
DOGE is expected to create change in the federal government, but will also face many political obstacles, including from Republicans, and legal challenges.
Still, Mr. Musk and Mr. Ramaswamy appear confident that a 6-3 conservative-leaning Supreme Court will help advance this ambitious agenda.
“With support from voters and a conservative majority on the Supreme Court, DOGE has a historic opportunity to reduce the size of the federal government,” the two emphasized.
DOGE aims to complete its mission by July 4, 2026, which is considered the “deadline” for the project.
Billionaire Elon Musk’s growing ties with President-elect Donald Trump not only creates hope but also raises concerns about conflicts of interest.
The South African-born billionaire has spent more than $100 million to support Mr. Trump’s campaign and regularly appears at rallies.
However, the relationship between the two, built on strong personalities and sometimes different policies, is likely to be challenged when it comes to political realities.
Mr. Musk recently invited Mr. Trump to attend a SpaceX test flight, demonstrating the increasingly close relationship between the two sides.
But with Mr. Musk’s businesses having to maintain relationships with the US government and foreign governments, this new role raises questions about transparency and accountability in policy decisions.
Dissecting Billionaire Elon Musk’s $2 Trillion Cut in Public Spending
