Photo: Mike Segar/ Reuters
Republican Vivek Ramaswamy is no longer the co-director of the newly created Department of Government Effectiveness (DOGE). This was reported by the Associated Press.
Ramaswamy’s decision is linked to his intention to run for governor of Ohio next year. Elon Musk, who previously ran DOGE jointly with Ramaswamy, will now head the body on his own.
Official statement from DOGE
Department spokeswoman Anna Kelly confirmed Ramaswamy’s departure:
“Vivek Ramaswamy has played a crucial role in the creation of DOGE. We are immensely grateful for his contributions and expect him to remain an important figure in America’s recovery agenda.”
Save America programme
The Office of Government Performance, created by President Donald Trump, aims to:
- Reduction of federal programmes.
- Dismissal of inefficient employees.
- Cutting back on regulatory rules.
DOGE, as conceived by the administration, is a non-governmental working group that seeks to improve the efficiency of federal agencies.
Ethical issues of Musk’s participation
Elon Musk’s appointment as co-chairman of DOGE raised concerns about his business interests:
- SpaceX has large defence contracts and cooperates with NASA.
- Tesla and other Musk companies may benefit from the Trump administration’s policy decisions.
Analysts warn that Musk’s involvement in DOGE needs to be carefully monitored to avoid a conflict of interest.
Long-term implications
Ramaswamy’s departure poses a challenge for DOGE, but also gives Musk the opportunity to fully implement his programme within the department. The effectiveness and transparency of this body’s decisions remain under public scrutiny.
