Vivek Ramaswamy Sets Ambitious Goals for Government Efficiency

FIRST ON FOX: Vivek Ramaswamy, recently appointed by President-Elect Donald Trump to lead the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), alongside tech mogul Elon Musk, is primed to tackle government waste through executive action once the Trump administration takes office.

Identifying ‘Low-Hanging Fruit’

In an interview on Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn’s podcast “Unmuted,” Ramaswamy highlighted a range of areas ripe for immediate action. He expressed confidence that executive measures could eliminate “unauthorized spending,” pointing to significant waste, fraud, and abuse within entitlement programs.

“By focusing on the executive branch, we can put an end to much of the unnecessary expenditures that Congress never authorized,” Ramaswamy stated, emphasizing the need to streamline operations and reduce bureaucratic inefficiencies. “The goal is to tame the administrative state to a size that our Founding Fathers would be proud of,” he added.

Goals for Military Spending

Alongside focusing on government efficiencies, Ramaswamy and Musk expressed intentions to scrutinize defense spending. They have indicated that a reassessment of spending levels is crucial, with Ramaswamy noting, “We need to strengthen our military by focusing on the *effectiveness* of our defense spending, rather than just reflexively increasing the magnitude.”

Ramaswamy confirmed that the DOGE initiative is planned to conclude in July 2026, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. “Reagan famously remarked that there’s no such thing as a government program that doesn’t live—it’s the best evidence we have for eternal life,” Ramaswamy mused. “I don’t believe that inefficiency must be eternally accepted.”

Legislative Support from Congress

Senator Blackburn is not just supportive but actively pursuing legislative changes to complement the goals of DOGE. She has proposed a bill to halt federal salary increases and hiring freezes until DOGE’s recommendations are fully implemented. In addition, Blackburn advocates for reforming the federal workforce through a shift towards a merit-based promotion system, rather than the traditional tenure-based approach. “These measures are critical moving forward,” Blackburn asserted. “We’re pleased that President Trump has recognized the importance of this now, and that he trusts you and Elon to spearhead this transformation.”

Goals of the DOGE Initiative

When announcing the Department of Government Efficiency, Trump stated that the newly formed panel would be tasked with slashing unnecessary regulations, reducing wasteful expenditures, and reorganizing federal agencies. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer has since established a subcommittee for the 119th Congress to align with the objectives of DOGE.

Collaborative Efforts to Reduce Spending

In agreement with Ramaswamy’s vision, House Republicans are mobilizing their efforts to diminish excessive spending. Representative Stephanie Bice of Oklahoma has introduced a new bill—the “Decreasing Overlapping Grants Efficiently (DOGE) Act.” This legislation aims to streamline the process of government grants, cutting back on redundancy across various departments.

Engaging the Public in Government Transformation

Ramaswamy acknowledged that achieving these ambitious goals would be a monumental task. However, he is optimistic that engaging the public in this endeavor could amplify the impact of the DOGE initiative. “If we invite the public to contribute by identifying experiences of waste or excessive bureaucracy, we can create a participatory process that is not only top-down, but also bottom-up,” he stated.

This inclusive approach to governance aims to unite the American public in the pursuit of more efficient government operations, with a clear goal: to increase accountability and transparency while reducing waste.