Entrepreneur-turned-politician Vivek Ramaswamy, who, alongside Tesla owner Elon Musk, has been appointed to lead the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has strongly hinted at sweeping reductions in federal government jobs across the United States.
Speaking at an event in Mar-a-Lago, Florida, on Thursday, the Indian-American politician outlined an ambitious plan to overhaul the bureaucratic system. “Elon Musk and I are in a position to start the mass deportations of millions of unelected federal bureaucrats out of the DC bureaucracy. That, too, is how we’re going to save this country,” he declared.
Ramaswamy’s remarks, delivered with characteristic vigour, suggested the duo would adopt an aggressive approach to tackling inefficiencies in government. “I don’t know if you’ve got to know Elon yet, but he doesn’t bring a chisel. He brings a chainsaw. We are going to be taking it to that bureaucracy. It’s going to be a lot of fun,” he said, alluding to their plans for widespread cuts.
Restoring the nation’s ascent
Drawing parallels to the ancient Roman Empire’s decline, Ramaswamy addressed concerns about the perceived stagnation in American governance. “We’ve been taught to believe over the last four years that we have become a nation in decline, at the end of the ancient Roman Empire. All we have is to fight over the scraps of some shrinking pie,” he said.
However, the entrepreneur-turned-politician offered an optimistic counter-narrative. “I don’t think we have to stay as that nation in decline. With what happened last week, we’re back to being a nation in our ascent—a nation whose best days are still ahead of us.”
In his speech, he envisioned a brighter future for America. “It’s going to be morning in America, the start of a new dawn. A country where our kids are going to grow up knowing they can succeed through hard work, commitment, and dedication. A country where the best person gets the job regardless of their colour, and where freedom of speech thrives,” he stated.
Transparency through ‘dogecasts’
To ensure accountability, Ramaswamy and Musk announced weekly live-stream updates, dubbed “Dogecasts,” aimed at keeping the public informed about their progress. “Our goal is to shave the size of government and to be as transparent as possible with the public. Weekly ‘Dogecasts’ will start soon,” Ramaswamy revealed.
The mission of DOGE, as outlined by Ramaswamy, is to create a government structure that aligns with the principles of America’s Founding Fathers. “Elon Musk and I look forward to fulfilling the mandate given to us by President Trump,” he added.
Targeting bureaucratic inefficiency
Ramaswamy criticised the excesses of the federal bureaucracy, citing its stifling effect on innovation and its contribution to rising costs. “Too much bureaucracy means less innovation and higher costs. That’s a real problem with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and countless other three-letter agencies,” he said.
He accused these agencies of being indifferent to the negative consequences of their decisions. “They are utterly agnostic to how their daily decisions stifle new inventions and impose costs that deter growth,” he argued.
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Ramaswamy emphasised the importance of streamlining government operations. “We are assembling the brightest minds in the country. This is the equivalent of a modern Manhattan Project. I think the major problem holding our country back is a federal bureaucracy. Target that cost, save the money, restore self-governance,” he explained.
A radical reimagining of government
The proposed reductions in federal jobs represent one of the most significant reforms to the US government in decades. DOGE’s work, which promises to drastically reshape the size and scope of the federal apparatus, has been met with both anticipation and scepticism from political observers.
While supporters have praised the initiative as a bold move to restore efficiency and innovation, critics have raised concerns about the potential social and economic impact of mass job cuts. Nonetheless, Ramaswamy remains undeterred, insisting that the measures are necessary to ensure the United States remains competitive and dynamic on the global stage.
As the first “Dogecast” approaches, Americans are set to witness the unfolding of a daring experiment in governance—a radical attempt to turn the tide of bureaucracy and usher in what Ramaswamy calls “a new dawn” for the nation.
