Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy Join Forces with Lawmakers: Is DOGE About to Skyrocket?

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who were selected by President-elect Donald Trump to lead the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), are scheduled to meet with lawmakers on Thursday. The purpose of this meeting is to garner support for their proposed cost-cutting measures and initiatives aimed at improving government efficiency. With the establishment of DOGE, Musk and Ramaswamy plan to implement strategies to streamline government operations and reduce unnecessary spending, and they are seeking to build a coalition of lawmakers who can help push these reforms forward.

House Speaker Mike Johnson is hosting Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy on Capitol Hill to engage with lawmakers on potential reform ideas. This follows President-elect Donald Trump’s announcement last month that Musk, the Tesla CEO, and Ramaswamy, an entrepreneur, will lead the initiative. Trump emphasized that the pair would play a key role in his administration’s efforts to dismantle government bureaucracy, reduce excessive regulations, eliminate wasteful spending, and restructure federal agencies.

Ahead of the meeting, House Speaker Mike Johnson spoke to reporters, describing the gathering as a “historic moment” for the country. He praised Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy as “innovators” and “forward thinkers,” emphasizing that they would play a crucial role in guiding the nation through a new chapter. Johnson expressed long-standing concerns about the size and inefficiency of the government, stating that it had grown too large and ineffective. He argued that the government performs many tasks poorly and that taxpayers deserve a more efficient system.

Johnson explained that the initial meeting would serve as a “brainstorming session” with key decision-makers in Congress. This includes committee chairs and leaders from the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) caucuses in both the House and Senate. Musk and Ramaswamy are also scheduled to meet with a broader group of lawmakers later in the day. Johnson reiterated the objective of making government more efficient, describing the initiative as a bicameral effort with support from both parties.

Last month, Republican Reps. Aaron Bean of Florida and Pete Sessions of Texas launched the DOGE caucus in the House, while Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa established a similar group in the Senate. On Fox News last week, Ernst highlighted her extensive experience with waste-reduction efforts over the past decade, which she intends to apply to the DOGE initiative. She expressed her enthusiasm for working with the caucus to ensure the success of DOGE and its mission to streamline government operations.

In recent days, some Democrats have shown interest in joining the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) caucus. Rep. Jared Moskowitz, a Democrat from Florida, became the first from his party to join and expressed a willingness to engage in discussions about government efficiency. He stated that avoiding the conversation wouldn’t benefit anyone and argued that Democrats should embrace the idea of improving government efficiency, though he clarified this wouldn’t mean cutting essential services.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts also signaled openness to working with Elon Musk on government contracting if it leads to cutting waste from the Pentagon budget. She said she is ready to collaborate with Musk if it benefits the American people but is also prepared to challenge him if their views diverge.

However, the DOGE initiative, with its meme-inspired name, has raised questions about its operational scope. Specifically, concerns have emerged regarding its authority to cut spending, as budget decisions ultimately lie with Congress. While Musk and Ramaswamy aim to reduce federal spending by $500 billion annually, the majority of federal spending is mandatory, and much of the discretionary budget is allocated to defense. They have identified areas for potential cuts, including the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, international grants, and organizations like Planned Parenthood. They also plan to reduce the number of federal employees.

Ramaswamy, who initially ran against Trump in the 2024 Republican primary, later aligned with him. Musk, the world’s wealthiest person, has become a key supporter of Trump’s campaign, even offering to contribute $1 million a day to support a petition backing the Constitution. Musk appeared alongside Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania before the election and has remained a frequent visitor to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate.