Tech entrepreneurs Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are set to meet with House Republicans on Thursday to outline their plan for slashing trillions of dollars from the federal budget as part of President-elect Donald Trump’s new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The initiative, a cornerstone of Trump’s incoming administration, aims to streamline government operations and rein in spending.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., who extended the invitation, said the meeting would be a collaborative effort to involve lawmakers in the budget-slashing initiative, reports News Nation Now.
“We’re excited,” Johnson stated. “I invited Elon and Vivek to come to the Hill because the three of us were talking a lot about ideas, but I wanted to involve more of the members. I think most will be there because there’s a lot of interest in this, and we’ll have a brainstorming session and kind of set the table for what’s to come.”
Though Musk and Ramaswamy have yet to reveal the specifics of their plan, they have emphasized a focus on reducing the regulatory burden and trimming the federal workforce. Their argument hinges on the idea that fewer regulations mean fewer employees are needed to enforce them.
Additionally, the duo has suggested implementing a requirement for federal employees to work in the office five days a week, a move they predict will lead to a wave of voluntary resignations.
The DOGE team is expected to highlight annual federal expenditures they claim are misaligned with congressional intent, such as: $535 million annually for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, $1.5 billion in grants for international organizations, and roughly $300 million allocated to groups like Planned Parenthood.
While these figures represent a fraction of the federal budget, Musk and Ramaswamy have set an ambitious goal of cutting $2 trillion in spending.
Surprisingly, the initiative has garnered support from some Democrats. Sen. Bernie Sanders expressed his endorsement on X (formerly Twitter), signaling that the idea of reducing waste resonates across party lines.
However, the Department of Government Efficiency itself lacks the authority to make budget cuts directly. Instead, it will serve in an advisory capacity to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Ross Vought, Trump’s nominee to head the OMB, is expected to collaborate closely with DOGE.
As Musk and Ramaswamy prepare to present their ideas, Thursday’s meeting will likely set the tone for their efforts to overhaul federal spending. With the backing of House Republicans and select Democrats, Trump’s DOGE initiative could reshape the role of government and redefine the boundaries of federal efficiency.