How the New Doge Department Could Transform American Government and Tech
On November 12, 2024, President Donald Trump announced the creation of a new advisory group called the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The group, led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, aims to improve the efficiency of the U.S. government. Their goal is to reduce waste, eliminate unnecessary spending, and streamline operations to make the government work better for the American people.
The Vision of DOGE
Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are both known for taking on big challenges. Musk, who was born in South Africa but is now seen as a symbol of American business success, is famous for cutting costs. At Twitter (now called X), he reduced the staff by 90%, showing that big cuts can still keep things running smoothly. This raises a key question: could the same approach work for the U.S. government?
Vivek Ramaswamy, a self-made billionaire, strongly believes in reducing the size of the government. He shares President Trump’s idea of cutting unnecessary parts, including getting rid of the Department of Education. With both Musk and Ramaswamy leading, their common goal is to reduce government waste, cut costs, and reorganize federal agencies to make them work better.
The vision for DOGE is not just about cutting costs but creating a government that works better for the American people. By thinking like a business, DOGE wants to make government faster, more efficient, and ensure that taxpayer money is spent wisely. This includes reducing staff, cutting old rules, and improving decision-making. The goal is to create a government that is smaller, more accountable, and focused on innovation while making sure it serves the people’s needs.
Mass Layoffs and Regulatory Rollbacks
DOGE is being created at a time when people are questioning how efficiently the government is spending money. The U.S. government’s yearly budget is $6.7 trillion, with most of it going to Social Security, Medicare, and Defense. Elon Musk believes that DOGE could help cut down government spending by up to $2 trillion.
To reach its goal, DOGE might start by laying off many federal workers. This idea is similar to what Argentina’s President Javier Milei recently did when he cut 5,000 government jobs and reduced regulations. Musk has already talked about this approach with Argentina’s officials. DOGE might follow a similar plan in the U.S., aiming to get rid of extra government agencies and unnecessary rules.
Financial Markets Reaction
The announcement of DOGE has caused a big reaction in financial markets. The price of Dogecoin, a meme cryptocurrency linked to Musk, shot up and tripled to 39 cents. This jump shows that investors are excited, hoping that Musk’s focus on government efficiency will lead to big changes in economic policies.
Jamie Dimon, the CEO of JPMorgan Chase, has shown support for DOGE. He thinks it could make the government work better. When financial leaders like him back the idea, it suggests that more people agree the government needs to be smaller and more efficient.
The Potential Impact of DOGE
DOGE is not an official department yet because it needs approval from Congress to become one. For now, it is an important advisory group that works directly with the President. Since it is a presidential commission, the leaders of DOGE, Musk and Ramaswamy, don’t need Senate approval and can make decisions more freely.
Trump’s goal for DOGE is clear: make the government more efficient by reducing the number of federal agencies from 400 to 99. If they succeed, it could lead to big changes in how the government works. They aim to finish their work by July 4, 2026, which is the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, as a way to give the American people a smaller, more efficient government.
One of DOGE’s main focuses is stopping Medicare fraud and cutting wasteful spending. As the government becomes more efficient, taxpayers could get better value for their money. By reducing unnecessary rules, DOGE could also make it easier for businesses to grow, which could help the economy and encourage new ideas.
A Radical but Controversial Approach
Musk’s idea for DOGE, calling it the “Manhattan Project” of today, is a big and bold plan, but it’s not without criticism. Cutting government jobs may face strong opposition from unions and people who worry about the effects of reducing regulations. Critics say that making too many cuts could hurt important services like public safety, healthcare, and education.
Trump, Musk, and Ramaswamy believe that the current size and spending of the U.S. government are not sustainable. Their plan is to give more power and control back to the American people, making sure that taxpayer money is spent wisely and efficiently.
Looking Ahead
The creation of DOGE marks a big change in how the federal government could work in the future. By using ideas from the private sector and focusing on efficiency, DOGE could change how the U.S. government operates.
Musk’s ability to do more with less, along with Ramaswamy’s support for reducing government size, makes them a strong team. If their plan works, it could set a new example for how the government can be more efficient, making it smaller and better at meeting the needs of the American people.
The next two years will be important for the DOGE advisory commission as it tries to make real changes before the July 2026 deadline. Whether it can meet expectations is still unknown, but its creation is a big step in the ongoing debate about the size and role of government in America. With its unusual name and leaders, DOGE might be the change Washington needs.
