Godspeed to DOGE

In the frenzy of activity since President-elect Trump won the election, perhaps no move has created more excitement and derision than the decision to tap Elon Musk and entrepreneur-turned-politician Vivek Ramaswamy to head up a newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) tasked with downsizing the federal government. Just a few weeks into existence, the ad hoc entity has inspired merchandise and even meme coins.

We understand its appeal. Conservatives have long had the fantasy of a ruthless business leader taking the reins of government, axing unproductive federal employees, and eliminating wasteful spending. Musk would seem to be the perfect candidate for such a position. A billionaire many times over, Musk made his record-shattering fortune by doing things people told him he couldn’t — launching rockets into space that can land back in the same spot, building a satellite internet system, and even creating an electric car that people actually want to buy. When he purchased Twitter and slashed most of its workforce, the tech press was filled with ominous warnings that it would imminently cease to function, but more than two years later, X is still a dominant social media platform.