One of the first executive orders U.S. President-elect Donald Trump plans to sign as president will be aimed at establishing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Semafor reported on Monday citing a fact sheet.
The department's work will include updating federal software systems to private-sector standards with an initial focus on modernizing information technology across the government, Semafor said.
Tech billionaire Elon Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy have been charged with leading the department.
Ramaswamy, however, will not be part of DOGE as he intends to run for governor of Ohio, Politico said on Monday, according to a person close to him. On Sunday, Politico said he intends to formally announce his bid by the last week in January.
Trump had said Musk and Ramaswamy would offer proposals to reduce government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut waste and restructure federal agencies, although the panel will hold no actual authority under federal law.
The department will "oversee a substantial reduction in the size and scope of government" and operate within the U.S. government, Semafor reported, citing the fact sheet.
"DOGE will work with the Office of Management and Budget and all agencies to shrink the federal workforce, federal spending, and federal regulatory burdens," Semafor added.
