Elon Musk’s growing influence in US President Donald Trump’s second-term administration is already shaking things up—and creating casualties.
Driving the news
- Barely two months after its inception, the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (
DOGE ), a pet project of President Trump, is seeing a high-profile shakeup.Vivek Ramaswamy , the biotech entrepreneur turned Republican politician, has been forced out as co-chair of the advisory group. - According to a Politico report, Ramaswamy’s departure wasn’t entirely voluntary and reflects the outsized influence of his former partner at the helm: Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
- The advisory group, tasked with cutting federal bureaucracy and modernizing government operations, was announced by Trump as a centerpiece of his promise to streamline Washington.
The power behind the throne
- While Trump himself is the public face of the initiative, insiders describe Musk as the real force behind DOGE’s operations—and its controversies. Musk’s preference for bold, sweeping reforms has already clashed with Washington’s status quo. And when it came to Ramaswamy, Musk made it clear he no longer believed the biotech executive fit into the group’s plans, the Politico report said.
- According to three sources familiar with Musk’s thinking, the tech mogul had grown increasingly frustrated with Ramaswamy’s attempts to balance his role at DOGE with a budding gubernatorial campaign in Ohio. Musk reportedly viewed the dual focus as untenable, with one source describing Musk’s sentiment as: “You can’t have one foot in DOGE and the other in politics.”
- “Musk has an iron grip on DOGE,” a Republican strategist close to Trump’s team told Politico. “And when he decided Ramaswamy wasn’t a fit, it was only a matter of time.”
- The fallout illustrates Musk’s expanding influence in Trump’s orbit as the tech mogul takes a leading role in shaping the agenda of DOGE.
- Ramaswamy’s departure also highlights tensions within Trump’s team, echoing the power struggles and infighting that characterized the former president’s first term.
- Musk’s influence has already raised concerns among critics, including former President Joe Biden, who warned of a “burgeoning oligarchy of tech billionaires” in Trump’s administration.
The big picture
- DOGE is Trump’s latest attempt to bring private-sector efficiency to government, an idea that has historically faced skepticism and resistance. The advisory group is tasked with ambitious goals: cutting three-quarters of federal government jobs, eliminating entire agencies, and modernizing federal technology. Musk has championed the initiative’s lofty $2 trillion cost-cutting target, though he recently tempered expectations, admitting that even $1 trillion might be a challenge.
- Ramaswamy, an entrepreneur-turned-politician, was expected to bring his expertise and conservative vision to DOGE. However, his blunt communication style and polarizing views quickly alienated key members of Trump’s circle. His December post on X (formerly Twitter), criticizing the US for “venerating mediocrity over excellence” and attributing tech companies’ preference for foreign H-1B visa holders to cultural failings, drew sharp backlash.
- “They wanted him out before the tweet—but kicked him to the curb when that came out,” said a source to Politico.
- The tweet compounded pre-existing frustrations within Trump’s team, with one Republican strategist summarizing, “Ramaswamy just burned through the bridges, and he finally burned Elon.”
Zoom in
Musk’s growing influence in Trump’s orbit has been on full display in recent weeks. As the co-leader of DOGE, Musk now enjoys unparalleled access to the administration. As per a New York Times report, Musk has a White House email address and is expected to receive office space in the West Wing.
The Tesla CEO’s proximity to power has raised eyebrows, particularly given his controversial reputation and history of clashes with government officials. Critics argue that Musk’s influence could lead to policies favoring tech billionaires while sidelining public accountability.
“Less than a day into Trump’s second term, and we’re already seeing the rise of a tech oligarchy,” said a former Biden administration official.
The tension between Musk’s vision for government and traditional Republican values has already surfaced. For instance, Musk’s support for immigration visas that bring skilled foreign workers to the US has put him at odds with figures like Steve Bannon, a former Trump adviser who criticized Musk for undermining the “America First” agenda.
What they are saying
- A Trump spokesperson, Anna Kelly, praised Ramaswamy’s contributions, saying he “played a critical role in helping us create DOGE” and attributed his exit to his gubernatorial ambitions.
- Ramaswamy, for his part, struck a conciliatory tone, posting a photo of himself shaking hands with Musk and captioning it “A new dawn.” Sources close to him claim the two men are now on good terms.
- A Republican insider familiar with Musk’s thinking noted that the tech titan believed Ramaswamy’s gubernatorial campaign would distract from DOGE’s work.
- Privately, however, the reactions have been less diplomatic. A cheeky meme circulating among Republican staffers depicted Musk as Josef Stalin and Ramaswamy as a Soviet official erased from history—a nod to Musk’s growing dominance in DOGE.
- Even Ramaswamy’s allies admit the timing of his departure is awkward. As one source put it, “He wanted to notch some early wins at DOGE before announcing his gubernatorial bid. Now, it looks like he’s been pushed out, even if that’s not the full story.”
Between the lines
Ramaswamy’s departure underscores broader challenges facing DOGE. While the group’s goals have been touted as transformative, its structure as a non-department with no formal authority raises questions about its ability to implement change.
Lawsuits from watchdog groups, unions, and public interest organizations have already been filed, alleging that DOGE violates federal advisory committee laws. Critics point to the group’s lack of transparency and accountability, warning that its grandiose plans may amount to little more than political theater.
Advisory committees like DOGE often struggle to deliver on their promises. For example, a similar effort under President Ronald Reagan delivered its report 18 months late, and most of its recommendations were never implemented.
What’s next
- Ramaswamy’s departure leaves Musk with near-total control of DOGE, a development that both excites his allies and alarms his critics. While Trump continues to tout the group as a cornerstone of his second-term agenda, DOGE’s ambitious goals have already encountered significant legal and logistical challenges.
- The lawsuits against DOGE are mounting, with unions, watchdog groups, and public interest organizations questioning the group’s authority and transparency. Critics argue that the initiative is more about consolidating power than delivering results, pointing to similar advisory committees in past administrations that promised bold reforms but failed to deliver.
- Still, Musk remains undeterred. During a rally celebrating Trump’s inauguration, the billionaire couldn’t contain his enthusiasm, declaring, “Man, I can’t wait. This is going to be fantastic.”
- Meanwhile, Ramaswamy is now pivoting to a new challenge: running for governor of Ohio. For Ramaswamy, the move marks a calculated shift toward political aspirations, but the way his exit unfolded—a mix of personal missteps and strategic sidelining by Musk—adds an air of controversy to his departure.
- Ramaswamy’s gubernatorial campaign will likely focus on leveraging his business credentials and conservative bona fides, but his sudden exit from DOGE could become a liability. Democrats in Ohio have already begun framing him as a political opportunist, and his critics within the Republican Party may seize on the controversy to question his judgment.
- The broader implications for Trump’s administration are equally significant. DOGE’s struggles could foreshadow the kind of dysfunction that plagued Trump’s first term, while Musk’s outsize role may further polarize public opinion.
- As one Republican strategist put it, “If DOGE fails, it won’t be because of the lawsuits. It’ll be because no one could figure out how to work together.”
(With inputs from agencies)
