Vivek Ramaswamy Steps Down from DOGE Leadership Role

Vivek Ramaswamy, the former presidential candidate, has decided to step down from his role as co-leader of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), just a few months after being appointed to the position. His resignation came shortly after President Donald Trump officially began his second term in office, leaving Elon Musk as the sole leader of the advisory group focused on streamlining government operations and reducing costs.

In a post on January 21 via X (formerly Twitter), Ramaswamy, 39, expressed his pride in supporting the creation of DOGE. He voiced confidence in Musk’s leadership and the team’s potential to succeed in its mission of improving government efficiency. Ramaswamy did not go into details about his future plans, but hinted that he would soon share more information about his next steps, particularly in Ohio. He reaffirmed his commitment to helping President Trump “make America great again.”

Reports from people familiar with the situation suggest that Ramaswamy, who is from Ohio, is preparing to announce his candidacy for governor of Ohio. This move is seen as the next step in his political journey. If Ramaswamy were to run and win, he would succeed current Governor Mike DeWine, whose second term ends in January 2027 due to term limits. The Ohio gubernatorial election is set for November 2026.

Anna Kelly, an official from DOGE, confirmed Ramaswamy’s political ambitions in comments to the Associated Press, noting that his decision to run for elected office necessitated his departure from the organization. DOGE’s structure prohibits members from pursuing political campaigns while actively participating in the group’s efforts.

Ramaswamy’s exit from DOGE follows reports of rising tensions between him and Musk. Sources have pointed to a December post by Ramaswamy on X, where he criticized aspects of American culture, which was said to have caused friction with Musk. Insiders suggest that Musk viewed Ramaswamy’s simultaneous involvement with DOGE and his political aspirations as unsustainable, ultimately leading to his departure. This situation has also been described as a reflection of the “burned bridges” within Trump’s inner circle, further hastening Ramaswamy’s exit from the advisory group.

DOGE, which was initially heralded as a transformative entity with the potential to reduce the federal budget by $2 trillion, has faced growing criticism. Musk, who had been a driving force behind the group, later suggested that the more realistic goal would be to cut $1 trillion from the budget. Critics, including tech journalist Kara Swisher, have raised concerns about DOGE’s lack of real authority, questioning whether the group can truly achieve its ambitious goals given its limited power to enforce budget cuts. As a result, skepticism about DOGE’s effectiveness has only increased in recent months.