Tech titan Elon Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, co-leaders of the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), are set to meet with Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Their objective: to collaborate on strategies to curb federal spending and eliminate government waste. This visit comes just weeks after the agency's establishment by President-elect Trump.
Their first stop will be the inaugural meeting of the Senate DOGE Caucus, chaired by Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA). Following this, they will participate in a bicameral gathering hosted by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), who has extended invitations to members of both the House and Senate. Speaker Johnson aims to explore "significant reform concepts" with Musk and Ramaswamy, focusing on regulatory rollbacks, administrative streamlining, and cost reductions, while also emphasizing the principle of limited government.
Musk and Ramaswamy have already articulated their vision for tackling government bloat in a recent Wall Street Journal op-ed. They've pledged to eliminate entire agencies through the DOGE initiative, aiming to complete this ambitious undertaking by July 4, 2026. Their primary focus is on identifying wasteful spending and unnecessary regulations within the executive branch. With Republicans controlling both the White House and Congress, they anticipate significant support from GOP lawmakers.
On the House side, Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) is establishing a dedicated DOGE Subcommittee, chaired by Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), to collaborate with the agency. This subcommittee will investigate wasteful expenditures, explore ways to restructure federal agencies for improved efficiency, and identify solutions to reduce bureaucratic obstacles. Reports indicate that Comer and Ramaswamy have already initiated discussions on collaborative strategies.
President-elect Trump has expressed his hope that DOGE will become the "Manhattan Project of our time," referencing the World War II atomic bomb project. He believes Republican politicians have long aspired to achieve the goals set forth by DOGE.
