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In a move aimed at shaking up Washington, former President Donald Trump announced plans to appoint Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest man, to head a new "Department of Government Efficiency." Trump, set to take office with his Republican running mate Vivek Ramaswamy, unveiled his ambitious vision for a government overhaul, saying Musk will bring "a shock to the system" to cut through bureaucratic red tape, reduce excessive spending, and streamline federal operations.
"Together, these two great Americans will lead my administration’s efforts to dismantle government bureaucracy, cut restrictive policies, and eliminate wasteful spending," Trump stated on Truth Social, calling Musk a “force” for efficient governance.
“A threat to democracy? No—a threat to the bureaucracy,” Musk wrote.
Responding to his appointment, Musk took to X (formerly Twitter) to clarify his goals. “A threat to democracy? No—a threat to the bureaucracy,” Musk wrote. He expressed his conviction that revamping government efficiency is crucial to preventing a fiscal crisis, adding, “Either we make government more efficient, or America goes bankrupt. This is the ultimate stake.”
Musk further pledged transparency, saying all actions of the new department would be made public. "Whenever people think we’re cutting something vital or sparing something wasteful, we want to hear about it," he said, even promising an online table to highlight what he called “the biggest stupid waste of tax dollars.” In his words, the list would be “both extremely tragic and extremely funny.”
In other major appointments, Trump revealed that Pete Hegseth, a decorated Iraq War veteran and Fox News anchor, will be named Secretary of Defense. According to Trump, Hegseth’s leadership will signal renewed strength for the U.S. military. "With Pete at the helm, America’s enemies will be put on notice—our armed forces will regain their greatness and America will never back down,” he asserted.
Additionally, Trump announced South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem as his choice for Secretary of Homeland Security, where she will be tasked with bolstering border protection. Trump confirmed that she’ll be working closely with Tom Homan, the former ICE director, to address immigration, an issue he described as "urgent and necessary."
Trump’s selections signal a strong pivot toward reform and a pledge to overhaul government as usual. With Musk and his high-profile allies at the helm, the upcoming administration promises bold, and likely polarizing, changes.
