The incoming President of the United States, Donald Trump, has appointed the heads of the Department of Government Efficiency: Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. The two entrepreneurs met with Republican lawmakers on Thursday in Capitol Hill, as reported by Reuters.
Their visit to Congress was aimed at promoting their work plan, as Trump has tasked them with leading a special task force focused on comprehensive reform of the US government. With the government’s spending reaching 6.8 trillion dollars in the last fiscal year, Musk has set a target of saving 2 trillion dollars, though it remains unclear whether this goal is to be achieved within a year or over a longer period.
The chairmen of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are advocating for the dismissal of thousands of federal employees, cutting regulatory measures, and terminating projects for which authorizations have expired. However, implementing these changes may face significant resistance.
Senator John Thune, the Republican from South Dakota who will become the Senate Majority Leader in the next session, expressed willingness to support Musk’s efforts after meeting with him, stating, “We want to do everything we can to assist him. Clearly, he has a significant mission. But we all think the efforts they are making should have started a long time ago.”
Musk emphasized the importance of ensuring that public funds are allocated properly, stating, “I think we just need to make sure we spend the public’s money where it’s needed.”
When asked about electric vehicle tax credits, Musk, also the CEO of Tesla, only addressed one specific policy, stating, “I think we should eliminate all credits.”
Musk’s companies benefit from federal contracts and tax incentives while also being subject to regulatory oversight, leading to concerns about potential conflicts of interest arising from his involvement in the Department of Government Efficiency.
As the incoming co-chairs of the Department of Government Efficiency, Musk and Ramaswamy are likely to work closely with Congress to ensure significant reductions in government expenditures, a task that will require collaboration with lawmakers.