Trump Taps Elon Musk and Pete Hegseth to Lead Ambitious Government Overhaul

President-elect Donald Trump made bold moves on Tuesday by appointing Elon Musk to help dismantle the U.S. bureaucracy and naming Pete Hegseth, a popular Fox News host, to lead the Pentagon. The appointments are part of Trump’s broader plan to cut government waste and reduce excessive regulations.

Musk, the billionaire CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, has long positioned himself as a disruptor, especially when it comes to cutting unnecessary costs. During the 2024 presidential campaign, Musk claimed he could eliminate $2 trillion in federal waste. Now, he’s taking on a new role with the government’s “Department of Government Efficiency”—a new initiative that will seek to streamline operations across federal agencies. The department’s acronym, DOGE, is also a nod to Musk’s association with the Dogecoin cryptocurrency, a move that raised eyebrows among critics and caused the cryptocurrency’s value to spike.

Trump’s statement on the appointments emphasized the critical importance of reducing government inefficiencies:
“Together, these two extraordinary Americans will lead the way to dismantle government bureaucracy, cut unnecessary regulations, and restructure federal agencies to create a more efficient and accountable government,” Trump said. “This initiative could become, potentially, ‘The Manhattan Project’ of our time.”

In addition to Musk’s role, Trump revealed he would appoint Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense. Hegseth, who has been a fixture on Fox News as the co-host of Fox & Friends Weekend, also served as an infantry captain in the Army National Guard, where he was deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq. He earned two Bronze Stars for his service.

Trump praised Hegseth’s strong leadership qualities:
“Pete is tough, smart, and a true believer in America First. With Pete at the helm, America’s enemies will be on notice. Our military will be great again, and America will never back down.”

In addition to his military background, Hegseth is well-known for his advocacy work on behalf of veterans. He previously served as the CEO of Concerned Veterans for America and has written a bestselling book, The War on Warriors. Trump highlighted Hegseth’s dedication to veterans and his unflinching commitment to the military as key factors in his decision to appoint him to the Pentagon.

Fox News also issued a statement praising Hegseth’s career at the network:
“Pete has been an exceptional host on ‘Fox & Friends’ and a best-selling author for Fox News Books for nearly a decade. His insights, particularly on military issues, resonated deeply with our viewers.”

Trump also noted that Hegseth’s book spent nine weeks on The New York Times bestseller list, underscoring his influence in military circles. Hegseth’s commitment to restoring meritocracy and accountability in the military aligns closely with Trump’s “Peace through Strength” policy.

As for Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, a former Republican presidential candidate who will also provide input on government efficiency, their work is expected to culminate by July 4, 2026, the United States’ 250th anniversary. Musk, who is no stranger to bold statements, was quoted as saying,
“This will send shockwaves through the system, and anyone involved in government waste— which, frankly, is a lot of people!”

With these high-profile appointments, Trump is signaling a bold new direction for the federal government, one that will rely heavily on outside voices to disrupt the status quo. As the nation approaches its milestone anniversary, it’s clear that Trump plans to reshape Washington with these unconventional leadership choices.