Vivek Ramaswamy is no longer a member of the commission championed by former President Donald Trump, officials confirmed just hours after the Republican leader took office on Monday. This departure leaves billionaire Elon Musk as the sole leader of the ambitious cost-cutting initiative.
Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur and former contender for the GOP presidential nomination in 2024, has indicated his plans to run for governor of Ohio in the upcoming election cycle. Born and raised in Cincinnati, Ramaswamy, 39, had previously shown interest in the Senate seat recently vacated by Vice President JD Vance. However, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine selected Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted to fill the position, prompting Ramaswamy to pivot toward a gubernatorial campaign.
“Vivek Ramaswamy played a critical role in helping us establish DOGE,” said Anna Kelly, spokesperson for the commission, in an official statement. “As he prepares to pursue elected office, he must step away from DOGE due to the structural framework introduced today. We are deeply grateful for his invaluable contributions over the past two months and remain confident that he will continue to play a vital role in making America great again.”
The commission, known as DOGE, was initially formed by Trump as a nongovernmental task force focused on his “Save America” agenda. Its primary mission involves identifying ways to significantly reduce the size of the federal government, including firing federal employees, cutting programs, and eliminating regulations. Trump had selected both Musk and Ramaswamy as the leaders of this bold initiative, designed to reshape government operations in a second Trump administration.
Musk’s continued leadership of the initiative has raised concerns over potential ethical conflicts, given his extensive business dealings with the federal government. SpaceX, the aerospace company Musk founded and leads, holds billions of dollars in defense contracts and competes for lucrative NASA projects. Tesla, Musk’s electric vehicle company, and his other ventures could also stand to benefit from regulatory or policy changes enacted by the Trump administration. Critics argue that Musk’s dual roles as a private-sector entrepreneur and public policy influencer could lead to decisions that prioritize his business interests over public welfare.
Despite these concerns, the commission’s objectives align with Trump’s longstanding vision to streamline government operations. DOGE is tasked with identifying programs and agencies to downsize or eliminate entirely, aiming to address what Trump calls “bureaucratic bloat.” The agenda also emphasizes reducing the federal workforce and rolling back regulations that Trump argues stifle innovation and economic growth.
However, efforts to cut government programs and reduce the scope of federal operations have historically faced strong resistance. Past administrations pursuing similar goals encountered public backlash when cuts threatened programs that millions of Americans rely on for essential services such as healthcare, military support, and job security. The challenge for DOGE lies in navigating these political and social hurdles while attempting to implement Trump’s vision.
Ramaswamy’s departure marks a significant change in the commission’s leadership structure, but his political ambitions signal an ongoing commitment to advancing similar principles in public office. Meanwhile, Musk’s role as the sole leader of the initiative places him at the center of one of the most controversial and high-stakes efforts of Trump’s second term.
As the commission moves forward, its ability to achieve Trump’s objectives without alienating the public or embroiling itself in ethical controversies remains to be seen. The departure of Ramaswamy adds a layer of complexity to an already contentious endeavor, underscoring the challenges inherent in executing a cost-cutting operation of this magnitude.
