Billionaire Elon Musk has officially secured a White House email address and office space, paving the way for his leadership of the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a cost-cutting initiative he has championed.
President Donald Trump formalized the initiative on Monday by signing an executive order that rebrands the U.S. Digital Service—a presidential in-house technology team—as the U.S. DOGE Service. This revamped office will serve as a base for Musk’s efforts, bringing in external volunteer experts to modernize government operations.
The DOGE will operate out of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building within the White House complex. According to Trump, the department will hire approximately 20 staff members to implement the initiative, with DOGE teams of at least four members embedded in every federal agency to oversee the program.
However, the scope of the initiative appears narrower than Musk initially envisioned. Trump’s order states the DOGE will focus on modernizing federal technology and software to enhance efficiency and productivity but does not explicitly address budget cuts or deregulation—areas Trump highlighted when appointing Musk to lead the project.
Musk’s White House email address was first reported by The Hill, and he is now officially listed as part of the Executive Office of the President. While Musk has confirmed he will not receive a salary for his role, questions have arisen about potential conflicts of interest given his companies, including Tesla and SpaceX, rely on government contracts and are subject to federal regulations.
DOGE is central to Trump’s long-term goal of reducing federal spending and downsizing government operations. The initiative will collaborate with the White House Office of Management and Budget to identify cost-saving measures, with recommendations due by July 4, 2026.
Musk, who has been a vocal Trump supporter, contributed significant funds to Trump’s presidential campaign and emerged as one of his key advisors. This appointment aligns with the Republican Party’s longstanding goal to reduce the size and scope of federal agencies.
While biotech entrepreneur and former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy was initially named as a co-leader of DOGE, the White House clarified on Monday that Ramaswamy would not be joining the initiative. He is instead preparing to launch a gubernatorial campaign in Ohio.
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