Elon Musk To Be Responsible for Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency
Elon Musk (L) & Donald Trump (R). X/ @DisavowTrump20
November 13, 2024 Hour: 9:36 am
The President-elect also announced former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee as the new U.S. Ambassador to Israel.
On Tuesday, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump announced that Elon Musk will lead the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
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The world’s richest man will share leadership of this new department with entrepreneur and former Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy. The acronym DOGE refers both to the popular meme-based cryptocurrency of the same name and to a frequent subject of Musk’s public comments.
According to Trump, this new department will push for “large-scale structural reforms” that could have significant repercussions for the federal government. “Together, these two remarkable Americans will pave the way for my administration to dismantle government bureaucracy, reduce regulatory overreach, cut unnecessary spending, and restructure federal agencies,” Trump stated.
Both Musk, who donated over US$118 million to Trump’s campaign, and Ramaswamy have advocated for spending cuts within the federal administration, which could include personnel reductions. However, Musk’s close ties with the incoming White House administration have raised concerns, as his businesses in the automotive and aerospace industries hold contracts with the federal government.
CIA, DHS, and Defense Already Have Nominees
Trump also announced additional appointments for his next administration, including Fox News host and military veteran Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense. Hegseth, a decorated veteran of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, will lead the Pentagon and oversee more than 1.3 million active-duty troops.
The Republican politician also named John Ratcliffe, former Director of National Intelligence, to lead the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). A former congressman from Texas, Ratcliffe served as Director of National Intelligence from 2020 to 2021, during Trump’s first term (2017-2021).
Additionally, the future president proposed South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for his administration. With Noem selected for DHS and the announcement of Tom Homan’s nomination to lead Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) again, Trump is assembling the core team for implementing his immigration policy with individuals who strongly support his promise of mass deportations of undocumented immigrants.
Other notable appointments announced include former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee as the new U.S. Ambassador to Israel. Trump stated that Huckabee will “work tirelessly to achieve peace in the Middle East.” This appointment underscores Trump’s commitment to aligning U.S. foreign policy more closely with Israel’s interests as it engages in conflicts with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The President-elect also revealed that businessman and philanthropist Steve Witkoff, one of his closest friends, will be his special envoy for the Middle East.
In addition, Trump has proposed Republican congressman and war veteran Mike Waltz as his National Security Advisor, a key position in decision-making for navigating geopolitical conflicts such as the Russia-Ukraine war and the Gaza conflict. Trump noted that the lawmaker and former Green Beret is “an expert on the threats posed by China, Russia, Iran, and global terrorism.”
teleSUR/ JF Source: EFE
