Will Donald Trump's DOGE be all bark no bite? How Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy plan to downsize US government

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy 's recent appointment by US president-elect Donald Trump to lead the newly announced ' Department of Government Efficiency ' ( DOGE ) has raised eyebrows and sparked discussions about the potential effectiveness of this initiative.

With a name that echoes the popular meme-based cryptocurrency Dogecoin, DOGE aims to tackle federal bureaucracy and inefficiency. However, skepticism surrounds whether this endeavor will yield substantial results or simply be "all bark and no bite."

What is DOGE?
The DOGE initiative was unveiled by Trump, who emphasised the need for a leaner government structure that minimises wasteful spending and excessive regulations.

Trump's announcement highlighted the ambitious goals of DOGE, which include slashing unnecessary expenditures within the federal budget, which amounts to approximately $6.75 trillion annually.

The initiative is positioned as a response to long-standing Republican desires for a more efficient government, encapsulated in the slogan "Minimum Government, Maximum Governance".

However, Trump has said that DOGE will operate as a temporary agency providing "advice and guidance from outside the government" rather than having any legislative or executive authority to enact changes independently.

This means that while Musk and Ramaswamy can propose reforms and suggest cuts to federal spending, they do not possess the power to implement these changes without Congressional approval.

What Musk, Ramaswamy plan to do
In his new role, Musk has pledged "maximum transparency", proposing interactive elements such as a virtual suggestion box for citizens to report wasteful spending.

This gamified approach aims to engage the public in identifying inefficiencies within government operations. However, critics argue that such measures may be more about entertainment than substantive change.

Ramaswamy has already indicated plans to crowdsource examples of government waste from the public, emphasising that Americans deserve a say in reforming their government.

Yet, there are concerns about how this initiative will interact with existing oversight bodies like the Government Accountability Office (GAO), which is already tasked with auditing government spending.

It is also uncertain how much real power DOGE will wield without Congressional backing.
Challenges ahead
Despite the ambitious goals set forth by Trump, Musk, and Ramaswamy, several challenges loom over DOGE's potential effectiveness:

• Lack of clear authority: The proposed DOGE lacks formal recognition as an official department since only Congress can create such entities. This raises questions about its legitimacy and authority in implementing changes. According to the announcement made by Trump, DOGE will operate as a temporary agency providing "advice and guidance from outside the government" rather than having any legislative or executive authority to enact changes independently. This means that while Musk and Ramaswamy can propose reforms and suggest cuts to federal spending, they do not possess the power to implement these changes without Congressional approval.
• Federal budget: Federal spending is fundamentally authorised by Congress, which holds the purse strings for government expenditures. This structure implies that any significant cuts or restructuring proposed by DOGE would require legislative backing — a process that can be complex and fraught with political challenges. Given the contentious nature of federal budget discussions, especially regarding popular programs like Social Security and Medicare, there is skepticism about whether Congress would support substantial cuts advocated by a non-governmental entity like DOGE.
• Bureaucratic resistance: The entrenched nature of federal bureaucracy may resist efforts at reform. Historical attempts to streamline government operations have often met with significant pushback from established interests.
• Undefined structure: The specifics of how DOGE will function remain unclear. Without a defined operational framework or staffing plan, it is uncertain how effective the initiative can be in achieving its goals. The lack of clarity on whether DOGE will operate under existing federal guidelines or as an independent entity complicates its mission.
  
• Time constraints: The timeline for DOGE's operations is set until July 4, 2026, which may not provide sufficient time for comprehensive analysis and implementation of proposed reforms. Given the complexity of federal operations, meaningful changes typically require extensive research, stakeholder engagement, and legislative processes—factors that may be challenging to accomplish within this timeframe. With Musk already managing multiple high-profile companies including Tesla and SpaceX, concerns arise regarding his availability and focus on DOGE amid these responsibilities.