DOGE Loses A Leader: Vivek Ramaswamy Steps Down

The very first thing that needed doing by the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, was to let go all but one leader.

Former presidential candidate and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy has stepped down as considered one of the co-heads of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

It was just hours into US President Donald Trump’s second term when Ramaswamy declared his resignation, which led to Elon Musk taking the solo quarterback role of the advisory group to start implementing cost-cutting measures.

A Recent Chapter In Ohio

Plainly Ramaswamy’s departure marks the beginning of a latest phase in his political profession. He thanked DOGE for helping him start the group and shared memories of his time there on social media on January 21.

He didn’t specify what his next move can be, but he indicated that an announcement is coming soon.

It was my honor to assist support the creation of DOGE. I’m confident that Elon & team will reach streamlining government. I’ll have more to say very soon about my future plans in Ohio. Most significantly, we’re all-in to assist President Trump make America great again! 🇺🇸 https://t.co/f1YFZm8X13

— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) January 20, 2025

Sources near Ramaswamy disclose that he’s gearing as much as contest the governor’s post in his home state, Ohio.

Nothing could possibly be higher timed than this, because the second and final term of Gov. Mike DeWine will come to an end in early 2027. In case Ramaswamy does enter the race and wins, he might well change into an important figure in Ohio politics and thus a rising star within the Republican Party.

Tensions Inside DOGE Before His Exit

The exit of Ramaswamy from DOGE may not have been a very seamless affair. Rumors are spreading about increased conflict between Ramaswamy and Elon Musk, apparently over problems with priorities.

In December, he published a post on his social media account taking a dig at facets of American culture, which apparently didn’t sit well with Musk.

Even the insiders have branded their working relationship as tense because Musk feels that the indisputable fact that Ramaswamy is targeted each on DOGE and his political ambitions is unsustainable.

These tensions — coupled with DOGE’s policy that bars members from engaging in political campaigns — made his resignation almost inevitable.

DOGE is currently trading at $0.37. Chart: TradingView

DOGE Downsized Ambitions

DOGE, which had promised to scale back the federal budget by $2 trillion, has come under attack for cutting down the goal to $1 trillion.

Musk recently acknowledged the revision, calling it a “realistic” goal, though it has raised questions on the group’s impact.

Donald Trump first introduced the Department of Government Efficiency last month, which seemed to be a subtle allusion to Musk’s chosen cryptocurrency, Dogecoin.