United States President-elect Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, will head a new federal efficiency task force aimed at reducing government waste.
Trump, the incoming Republican president, has been assembling a lineup of experienced figures and hardliners to shape his administration as he prepares to assume office.
Musk, a major ally in Trump’s campaign, reportedly spent over $100 million to support Trump’s election and actively promoted his candidacy on X, the social media platform Musk owns. Musk and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy will lead the newly formed “Department of Government Efficiency, a name inspired by an internet meme and cryptocurrency.
“Together, these two wonderful Americans will pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies,” Trump declared.
He emphasized that the new department “will provide advice and guidance from outside of Government,” a strategy that may enable Musk to sidestep financial disclosure requirements.
On X, Musk promised the department’s initiatives would be published online “for maximum transparency,” featuring a “leaderboard for most insanely dumb spending of your tax dollars.” He added, “This will be both extremely tragic and extremely entertaining.”
Trump, 78, is expected to return to Washington on Wednesday for a meeting with President Joe Biden in the Oval Office. He may also visit the U.S. Capitol, where his party now holds a slim majority in the Senate and is likely to retain control of the House of Representatives. Trump is moving rapidly to solidify his comeback, just over two months before he takes office.
Global leaders are watching Trump’s appointments closely to gauge his approach on promises to adopt an isolationist foreign policy, enforce strict immigration policies, and target those he considers adversaries.
On Tuesday evening, Trump selected Pete Hegseth, a military veteran and Fox News host, as his incoming defense secretary. “With Pete at the helm, America’s enemies are on notice — Our Military will be Great Again, and America will Never Back Down,” he said.
U.S. media also reported that Florida Senator Marco Rubio is expected to be named secretary of state, a significant foreign policy role. Trump further appointed Congressman Mike Waltz, a former special forces officer with hawkish views on China, as his national security advisor.
John Ratcliffe, Trump’s former director of national intelligence, has been named to lead the CIA. Ratcliffe’s appointment aligns with Trump’s preference for loyalists in key intelligence roles.
On the domestic front, Trump appears ready to uphold his strong campaign rhetoric on immigration, promising mass deportations. He has appointed South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem as secretary of homeland security, with hardline immigration official Tom Homan as “border czar.” Stephen Miller, known for crafting Trump’s controversial “Muslim ban,” has been named deputy chief of staff.
Trump also tapped Lee Zeldin to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, tasking him with rolling back climate and pollution regulations. Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, a close Trump ally with strong pro-Israel views, has been chosen as United Nations ambassador. Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, another fervent supporter of Israel, has been appointed as ambassador to Israel.
In a gesture restoring presidential transition traditions, Biden invited Trump to the Oval Office, a meeting that Trump did not offer to Biden when he lost the 2020 election. Trump had refused to sit with Biden or attend the inauguration, leaving the White House amid party division after being widely criticized for encouraging the Capitol attack on January 6, 2021.
Despite past controversies, Republicans have rallied behind Trump, recognizing his significant influence within the party. As he navigates Senate approval for many of his cabinet nominees, Trump is also considering “recess appointments” to bypass Senate oversight.