Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are headed to Washington, D.C., next week. They’ll meet with Republican lawmakers to discuss cutting excess from the federal government. As co-leads of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), they aim to streamline operations under the incoming Trump administration.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., shared the news on X. He announced that Musk and Ramaswamy will meet with GOP members on Thursday. “Looking forward to hosting @elonmusk and @VivekGRamaswamy next week on Capitol Hill,” Johnson wrote. He called it a step toward “regulatory rescissions, administrative reductions, and cost savings.”
Musk and Ramaswamy are already laying out their plans for DOGE. They detailed their vision in a Wall Street Journal op-ed last week. The piece explained how DOGE will identify waste and propose significant cuts.
The duo has big goals for the initiative. They aim to eliminate entire agencies and intend to wrap up their work by July 4, 2026. Their focus is on slashing inefficiencies and reducing regulations through executive action.
Johnson’s announcement signals a broader collaboration with Congress. While their op-ed focused on the executive branch, Congress will also play a key role. Some Republican lawmakers have already shown interest in assisting the effort.
The GOP will control the White House and both chambers of Congress starting in January. However, critics doubt DOGE can achieve its ambitious goals. They cite limits on presidential power and the narrow Republican majorities in Congress.
Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., believes there’s potential for bipartisan support. “If they target wasteful spending or monopolies in defense contracting, that could gain backing,” he told CNN. But he warned against cuts to programs like Social Security or Medicare. “It really depends on what they recommend,” he added.
Economist Steve Moore weighed in on DOGE during an appearance on The Evening Edit. He discussed what could realistically be achieved through executive action. DOGE’s success may hinge on finding common ground and avoiding politically sensitive cuts.