The departure of Vivek Ramaswamy, a previous Republican presidential candidate, from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), recently formed by President Donald Trump, signifies a considerable shift in power just 69 days after its inception. As a result, tech mogul Elon Musk has become the single leader of this initiative to reduce government expenditures.
Musk, Trump’s trusted confidante, made his intentions clear recently, advocating for Ramaswamy’s removal, according to three sources privy to the matter. “Everyone wants him out of Mar-a-Lago, out of D.C.,” commented a Republican strategist close to Trump’s advisers.
Ramaswamy’s controversial social media post from December 2024 about H-1B visas was the final trigger. In it, he lambasted American culture for “venerated mediocrity over excellence.” A source familiar with the situation noted, “They wanted him out before the tweet — but kicked him to the curb when that came out.”
The conflict between the co-leaders originated from fundamentally differing visions for DOGE. Musk was in favor of a tech-centric approach to modernizing federal systems, whereas Ramaswamy pushed for broader constitutional and regulatory reforms. According to multiple sources close to the situation, this philosophical dispute caused unresolvable friction within the organization.
DOGE has significantly transformed since its inception. Initially conceived as an outside advisory committee, it has been restructured as an internal White House entity, superseding the U.S Digital Service from the Obama era. The reorganization subjects the department to new transparency and ethical rules while sidestepping potential legal issues. Its refined mission focuses on executing the President’s DOGE Agenda by modernizing Federal technology and software for maximum governmental efficiency and productivity.
The power struggle escalated in recent weeks. Despite Ramaswamy claiming to six different confidants that he was actively drafting executive orders as late as Saturday evening, a source with knowledge of the arrangement revealed he had conducted almost no DOGE-related work since early December.
Musk’s rising clout has provoked concern among ethics watchdogs, particularly considering his substantial business interests. Musk’s companies, including SpaceX with its defense contracts and Tesla, stand to gain from Trump’s policy decisions. Critics caution about a “burgeoning oligarchy of tech billionaires” in the administration, calling for increased scrutiny of potential conflicts of interest.
Vivek Ramaswamy is pivoting from federal to state politics, with plans to run for governor of Ohio following an unsuccessful attempt to secure a Senate seat appointment from Governor DeWine. If his gubernatorial campaign succeeds, he will join a small but notable group of Indian-American governors, becoming only the third after Nikki Haley and Bobby Jindal. While this shift reduces Indian-American presence at the federal level, Ramaswamy could potentially wield considerable influence from a state executive position.
The political ripple effect reached Capitol Hill, where even Republican colleagues distanced themselves from Ramaswamy. A pointed meme likening Musk to Josef Stalin and Ramaswamy to a deposed Soviet official circulated among junior House Speaker Mike Johnson’s office staff. However, a spokesperson later denied the account.
At a rally on Sunday, January 19, 2025, the evening before his inauguration, Trump discussed DOGE without acknowledging the looming leadership change, stating, “We have [Musk] and Vivek and some great people working on a thing called costs.”
The separation between Ramaswamy and DOGE was primarily driven by a structural conflict with his political aspirations. According to an inside source, Musk determined that Ramaswamy’s campaign activities were incompatible with DOGE involvement.
Through spokesperson Anna Kelly, Trump’s team framed this departure diplomatically, highlighting Ramaswamy’s contributions to DOGE’s creation while acknowledging that the organization’s new structure precluded his continued involvement due to his gubernatorial pursuits.
The restructuring of DOGE mirrors broader challenges facing tech executives’ ambitious plans within Washington’s political landscape. The department’s transformation from an external advisory body to an internal government entity showcases the complex reality of implementing private sector methodologies in federal systems.
On Monday morning, January 20, 2025, Ramaswamy appeared to signal unity by posting a photo of himself shaking hands with Musk, captioned “A new dawn.” That same day, as his departure neared completion, he attended Trump’s inauguration and spoke with Trump’s chief of staff, Susie Wiles.