FIRST ON FOX: Vivek Ramaswamy, who was lately tapped by President-Elect Trump to go the nascent Division of Authorities Effectivity (DOGE) alongside tech billionaire Elon Musk, stated there are a number of “low-hanging fruit” to weed out “lots of waste” via government motion when Trump takes workplace.
“One of many low-hanging fruit areas is to take a look at areas below the manager department, via government motion that we are able to really put an finish to lots of the cash that hasn’t been licensed by Congress, nevertheless it’s nonetheless being spent, lots of the waste, fraud and abuse, even in entitlement packages which are leading to lots of frictional price, and finally tame the executive state itself again right down to the scale that may make our Founding Fathers proud,” Ramaswamy stated on “Unmuted,” Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn’s podcast.
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Final week, each Musk and Ramaswamy took to X, previously Twitter, to say they’re going to additionally deal with protection spending cuts whereas heading up the DOGE advisory panel.
“We have to strengthen our navy by specializing in the *effectiveness* of our protection spending, quite than simply reflexively growing the magnitude,” Ramaswamy wrote.
DOGE will expire in July 2026, he famous, on the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
“I believe it was Reagan who famously stated there is no such factor as a authorities program that does not stay, it is one of the best proof now we have for everlasting life,” Ramaswamy stated. “And , I do not assume it must be that approach.”
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Blackburn added that she has launched laws to halt federal wage will increase and hiring till suggestions from DOGE are carried out, in addition to a invoice to reform the federal workforce, advocating for a shift from tenure-based promotions to a merit-based system.
“And people are issues that must be enacted,” Blackburn stated. “We’re simply so happy that President Trump has stated now’s the time. We’re so happy that he has stated that you simply and Elon are the folks to make this occur.”
When asserting the Division of Authorities Effectivity, Trump stated the panel would assist his administration “slash extra laws, lower wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Businesses.”
Home Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., lately introduced a brand new subcommittee for the 119th Congress to correspond with the Division of Authorities Effectivity.
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Home Republicans are additionally leaping on the bandwagon to slash spending. Rep. Stephanie Bice, R-Okla., launched a brand new invoice final week – the “Lowering Overlapping Grants Effectively (DOGE) Act” – that may set up a system for slicing down on redundant authorities grants throughout a number of departments.
“It is a massive enterprise,” Ramaswamy stated. “However I do assume that if we convey the general public alongside and even enable the general public to take part in airing areas the place they’re encountering authorities waste or paperwork and floor that we’re capable of make this one thing that is not simply high down, but in addition backside up.”
Fox Information Digital’s Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.