On November 5th, 2024, the United States held its presidential election. Donald Trump, the former 45th president, won the election and will be inaugurated on January 2025 as the 47th president. Since then, Trump has been planning his administration for the next four years. One of the plans for the new administration is the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which Trump announced a week after the election.
DOGE, with its certain responsibilities, has brought excitement, worry, and a lot of questions from many in the United States. Even the acronym is being talked about.
What is DOGE?
The Department of Government Efficiency is a proposed commission to be led by famous entrepreneur Elon Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. It is not actually a US government agency; for that to happen, US Congress would have to pass an act to establish it.
The pair will work together as advisors, leading DOGE to, according to Trump, “dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures and restructure federal agencies.”
Elon Musk first proposed the commission through X during August 2024 to Trump. Trump agreed to establishing DOGE wholeheartedly, saying “I’d love it,” during their conversation.
Trump has put his full confidence in the pair. He stated that DOGE would deliver “a smaller government, with more efficiency and less bureaucracy,” which would be “the perfect gift to America on the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.”
DOGE would be a short-lived commission, as Musk and Ramaswamy are to be done with their responsibilities no later than July 4, 2026.
Opinions on DOGE
There are mixed reactions coming from the American public.
Senator Elizabeth Warren of the Democrats mocked Trump’s appointment of Musk and Ramaswamy on X, stating “two people to do the work of one person. Yeah, this seems REALLY efficient.” Mocking the effectiveness of DOGE prompted Musk to respond to her X post.
Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase, the largest American bank, expressed his support for the establishment of DOGE, stating “governments have to be more efficient, more competent,” as well as “when they [a government] take money, what do they get for it.” in a televised interview.
Most vocal about DOGE are the two leads Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy and President-elect Trump, expressing their full support.
What do you think about DOGE? Is it something to support or reject? I encourage you to do more research and pay more attention to the news about DOGE, especially during Trump’s administration starting in 2025.
The Acronym
Notice anything about the acronym of the Department of Government Efficiency?
There are two main interpretations of what the acronym is a nod to.
One is a nod to Elon Musk’s favourite cryptocurrency, Dogecoin. The cryptocurrency’s value has surged up by 150% since the US election. Dogecoin’s value is also supported by the promises from Trump, the growing political clout from Musk and his longtime support for the memecoin, especially on X. With the announcement of the Department of Government Efficiency, the value of Dogecoin may not struggle any time soon.
Another is the nod to one of the greatest Internet memes of all time, Doge. It was created in 2013 which features a picture of a Shiba Inu dog named Kabosu. Internet users used the picture of Kabosu to create their own memes which millions have enjoyed and will continue to enjoy as Doge has a special place in many people’s hearts (including mine, the author of this blog). Kabosu has unfortunately passed away at 18 years of age on May 24, 2024. She enjoyed 14 years of internet fame, but her legacy will live on forever.
Bibliography:
What is the department of government efficiency?
Dogecoin: A Joke No More? The Rise Of A $58 Billion Crypto Phenomenon
What is ‘Doge’? Explaining the meme after Trump appoints Elon Musk
Kabosu dies: Shiba inu dog was meme and face of Dogecoin
Don’t underestimate Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency
Jamie Dimon Likes Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency Idea – Business Insider
Any pictures used are from Pixabay