Vivek Ramaswamy, the former GOP presidential candidate, has left the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a newly-formed department in the Trump administration, after only 69 days. This development has resulted in a significant shift in power dynamics, making tech tycoon Elon Musk the exclusive leader of the government’s cost-cutting initiative.
Musk, a trusted advisor to President Trump, had expressed his desire for Ramaswamy’s departure, as per three sources privy to the matter. “Everyone wants him out of Mar-a-Lago, out of D.C.,” stated a GOP strategist with close ties to Trump’s advisors.
Ramaswamy’s controversial post in December 2024 about H-1B visas, in which he criticized the American culture for preferring “mediocrity over excellence,” was the final trigger. A source informed, “They wanted him out before the tweet — but kicked him to the curb when that came out.”
The co-leaders’ disagreement was rooted in their dissimilar visions for DOGE. Musk favored a tech-driven approach to modernize federal systems, while Ramaswamy pushed for broader constitutional and regulatory changes. These contrasting philosophies led to unmanageable tension within the department, as per multiple sources.
DOGE’s structure has seen significant changes since its inception. Initially conceived as an external advisory committee, it has now been transformed into an internal White House department, replacing the US Digital Service from the Obama administration. The revamp subjects the department to new ethical and transparency rules and helps avoid potential legal issues. Its updated mission is to execute the President’s DOGE Agenda by overhauling federal technology and software to enhance government efficiency.
The struggle for power escalated recently. Despite Ramaswamy’s claims of working on executive orders until late Saturday evening, a source disclosed that Ramaswamy had hardly done any DOGE-related work since early December.
Musk’s increasing influence has raised eyebrows among ethics watchdogs due to his expansive business ventures. His companies like SpaceX and Tesla could gain from Trump’s policy decisions. Critics are alarmed about the growing power of tech billionaires in the government and are calling for more scrutiny of potential conflicts of interest.
Ramaswamy’s departure aligns with his political ambitions in Ohio. After an unsuccessful lobbying attempt for a Senate seat appointment by Governor Mike DeWine of Ohio, Ramaswamy is expected to announce his run for governor next week. If he wins, he would be the third Indian-American governor in American history, following Nikki Haley and Bobby Jindal. Although his exit from DOGE is a blow to Indian-American representation in the federal government, political pundits believe he could hold substantial sway through state leadership.
The political repercussions reached Capitol Hill, with Republican peers distancing themselves from Ramaswamy. A meme comparing Musk to Josef Stalin and Ramaswamy to a deposed Soviet official circulated among junior staff in House Speaker Mike Johnson’s office. However, a spokesperson later denied this report. At a rally on Sunday, January 19, the eve of his inauguration, President Trump spoke about DOGE without mentioning the looming leadership change, saying, “We have [Musk] and Vivek and some great people working on a thing called costs.”
According to a person close to DOGE, campaign incompatibility was cited as the official reason for the split. Musk did not deem it practical for Ramaswamy to run for office while working on DOGE. Trump transition spokesperson Anna Kelly portrayed the departure in a positive light, acknowledging Ramaswamy’s crucial role in DOGE’s formation and attributing his departure to his gubernatorial ambitions, which “require him to remain outside of DOGE based on the structure we announced today.”
The modification of DOGE mirrors the broader challenges facing tech executives’ ambitious projects within the political milieu of Washington. The department’s shift from an external advisory body to an internal government entity illustrates the complex task of applying private sector strategies within federal systems.
On Monday, January 20, 2025, in an ostensible display of solidarity, Ramaswamy posted a picture of him shaking hands with Musk, captioning it as “A new dawn.” He attended Trump’s inauguration the same day, conversing with Trump’s chief of staff, Susie Wiles, even as his departure was being finalized.
