Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy's Vision for a Leaner US Government

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy have unveiled ambitious plans to drastically reduce the size of the US government. Appointed by President-elect Donald Trump, they propose significant cuts through the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Their strategy involves suspending federal regulations, reducing staff, and incentivizing early retirements. They aim to bypass legal protections for civil service and tackle over $500 billion in unauthorized spending. This includes funding cuts for public broadcasting and international organizations.

Musk and Ramaswamy emphasize the need to address waste and fraud, seeking savings by auditing government contracts. They advocate for a five-day in-office workweek for federal employees, aiming to encourage voluntary terminations. Their goal is to shrink the number of federal agencies from 400 to 99 by July 4, 2026. They view the current bureaucracy as a threat to US democracy and intend to act as entrepreneurs, not traditional politicians. Despite criticism, their focus remains on immediate taxpayer savings and a leaner, more efficient government structure.