Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy have big plans for a new government department aimed at making the U.S. government smaller, more efficient, and less costly. This department is called the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and its goal is clear: to cut the bloated bureaucracy and save taxpayer dollars. But how do they plan to do it?

The Problem: A Giant, Inefficient Government

Musk and Ramaswamy argue that today’s government isn’t working the way the Founding Fathers intended. Instead of Congress, unelected bureaucrats create most of the rules and regulations that govern the country. They say that these rules are not only undemocratic but also costly. In fact, the national debt has grown so large that paying off the interest is now a huge financial burden. The national debt just hit $36 trillion, and the cost of paying it off is more than $1 trillion a year.

This is where DOGE comes in. The department’s mission is to slash waste, cut unnecessary regulations, and downsize the federal government to save money and make it work better for the people.

The Plan: How DOGE Will Work

DOGE isn’t just a regular government department. Musk and Ramaswamy are entrepreneurs, not career politicians. They plan to work as volunteers, not official government employees, and focus on results rather than reports. Their approach is different—they don’t just want to point out the problems; they want to fix them. Here’s how they plan to do it:

1. Cutting Unnecessary Regulations

One of DOGE’s first steps is to look at all the rules and regulations that have been created by federal agencies over the years. Many of these rules were not approved by Congress, meaning they were made by people who weren’t elected. According to Musk and Ramaswamy, these regulations often go beyond what the law allows, costing businesses and taxpayers unnecessarily.

What DOGE will do:

• Identify and remove regulations that go beyond the legal power of federal agencies.
• Pause and review these regulations, and only allow those that are truly necessary to remain in place.
• Prevent future administrations from reintroducing these unnecessary regulations.

2. Reducing the Size of the Federal Government

Another major goal is to shrink the size of the federal bureaucracy. Musk and Ramaswamy want to streamline the government, cutting unnecessary jobs and making sure the agencies only have the employees they truly need to function.

What DOGE will do:

• Work with agency leaders to identify the minimum number of employees needed to do the job.
• Help those who lose their jobs transition to the private sector with early retirement or voluntary severance packages.
• Use executive authority to reduce the size of federal agencies, including potentially moving some out of Washington, D.C., to save costs.
• Reinstate in-person work and push employees who don’t want to return to leave, reducing the headcount.

3. Cutting Wasteful Spending

Even though there’s a focus on cutting the size of the government, DOGE will also work on eliminating wasteful spending. A large chunk of federal spending is either unauthorized or misused. By stopping these unnecessary expenditures, DOGE aims to save taxpayers billions.

What DOGE will do:

• Cut wasteful programs that Congress never approved, such as unnecessary foreign aid or funding to groups with political agendas.
• Overhaul the way the government buys goods and services, making sure contracts are used efficiently and that taxpayer money isn’t wasted.
• Scrutinize the Department of Defense, which has repeatedly failed audits, to stop wasteful spending.

A Historic Opportunity for Change

This is a rare opportunity to reform the government and create a leaner, more effective system. Musk and Ramaswamy believe that, by removing unnecessary regulations, downsizing federal agencies, and eliminating waste, they can make the government work better for the people. Their ultimate goal is to make DOGE obsolete by July 4, 2026, the 250th anniversary of the U.S. founding. They hope to leave behind a smaller, more efficient government that is better aligned with the Founders’ vision.

In a time when the government seems to be growing larger and more complex by the day, DOGE offers a bold plan for change. If Musk and Ramaswamy succeed, this could be a historic turning point for how the U.S. government operates—and could lead to massive savings for taxpayers and a more accountable system for future generations.

This is just the beginning, and if their plan works, it could reshape the way Americans view their government for years to come.