US PRESIDENT-ELECT Donald Trump has announced that Tesla owner Elon Musk and Indian American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy will lead the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, aimed at improving governance and curbing wasteful expenditures. Trump has also given them a deadline of July 4, 2026, the 250th Anniversary of The Declaration of Independence. “I am pleased to announce that the Great Elon Musk, working in conjunction with American Patriot Vivek Ramaswamy, will lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE),” Trump announced late on Tuesday. Ramaswamy, 37, is the first Indian American to have been tapped by Trump into his administration beginning January 20 next year. His parents migrated to the US from Kerala and worked at a General Electric plant in Ohio.

 

“I look forward to Elon and Vivek making changes to the federal bureaucracy with an eye on efficiency and, at the same time, making life better for all Americans. Importantly, we will drive out the massive waste and fraud which exists throughout our annual USD 6.5 trillion of Government spending,” said the President-elect. Trump on Tuesday announced that former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe will head the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) under his administration. “From exposing fake Russian collusion to be a Clinton campaign operation, to catching the FBI’s abuse of Civil Liberties at the FISA Court, John Ratcliffe has always been a warrior for Truth and Honesty with the American Public,” Trump said.

 

“When 51 intelligence officials were lying about Hunter Biden’s laptop, there was one, John Ratcliffe, telling the truth to the American People,” he added. Trump onTuesday also announced the nomination of popular Fox News host and Army veteran Pete Hegseth, 44, as his Defence Secretary. “I am honoured to announce that I have nominated Pete Hegseth to serve in my Cabinet as the Secretary of Defence,” Trump announced on Tuesday. “Nobody fights harder for the troops, and Pete will be a courageous and patriotic champion of our ‘Peace through Strength’ policy,” he said. “Pete has spent his entire life as a warrior for the troops, and for the country. Pete is tough, smart and a true believer in America First. With Pete at the helm, America’s enemies are on notice,” he added.