President Donald Trump has selected a new leader to oversee the U.S. Department of Governor Efficiency (DOGE), as Elon Musk prepares to depart his post within the administration. Musk, who has served in the role since the department’s formation early in Trump’s term, announced his plans to return full-time to Tesla amid rising pressure and declining stock performance for the electric vehicle company.
Russ Vought, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, will assume leadership of DOGE and is expected to continue Musk’s work in restructuring the federal government. DOGE was established to streamline government operations, reduce spending, and revise the classification of federal employees. The department has played a central role in crafting the administration’s 2025 budget proposal and negotiating with lawmakers on fiscal policy.
Vought has already encountered pushback from defense officials and congressional Republicans for proposing flat funding for military programs. His recommended figure of $892.6 billion contrasts with calls for increased defense spending led by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and several Republican lawmakers. Sources familiar with the matter told the Wall Street Journal that disagreements over defense appropriations have sparked internal debate among Trump’s advisers.
BREAKING: Russ Vought will take over for Elon Musk in directing DOGE
Vought is a fiscal conservative, working to reduce wildly excessive government spending—which is huge
But even more critical, buried in the story: the revival of ‘SCHEDULE F’—the key to draining the swamp! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/gOmZCvjn9x
— John Strand (@JohnStrandUSA) May 12, 2025
President Trump, during a cabinet meeting held last month, acknowledged Musk’s planned departure and said the entrepreneur was welcome to stay in his role as long as desired. “At some point he wants to get back home to his cars,” Trump stated. Around the same time, Musk addressed Tesla shareholders during an earnings call, citing activist-led boycotts and political backlash as factors affecting the company’s market performance. Tesla’s stock value had declined by more than 70% since Musk took on his government role.
Musk also pointed to ongoing criticism of DOGE and its initiatives as part of a broader campaign against his leadership and affiliations. “They will try to attack me and the DOGE team and anything associated with me,” Musk said during the call.
Vought’s policy goals align with broader Republican objectives, including a renewed effort by House leadership to cut federal spending. Over the weekend, House Republicans released a budget proposal that would reduce federal expenditures by $912 billion. While the blueprint excludes previously discussed cuts to Medicaid, it reflects Trump’s tax policy agenda and outlines plans for targeted reductions across various departments.
Among the more contentious ideas under consideration is the use of impoundment authority, a power that would allow the president to withhold funds approved by Congress. Vought has previously advocated for this approach, though it has not yet been formally proposed. A senior OMB official told reporters last week that the idea remains under discussion and has not been ruled out.
Democrats have criticized the role of DOGE in implementing budget reductions, describing the agency’s actions as overreaching. Critics argue that the administration is circumventing Congress by reassigning agency responsibilities or eliminating entire departments, such as USAID and the Department of Education. They also warn that such actions challenge the traditional balance of power between the legislative and executive branches.
‘We were on the verge of losing our country.’ Russ Vought reflects on the last 4 years under the Biden administration — and why he believes that struggle was necessary to wake people up. Was it the breaking point America needed? Full interview on Youtube. pic.twitter.com/hkcI0UBff8
— Sage Steele (@sagesteele) April 8, 2025
An executive order issued on February 19 instructs federal agency leaders to identify and eliminate regulations deemed unlawful, signaling an upcoming phase of regulatory rollback. Vought is expected to prioritize this directive as he takes charge of DOGE operations.
Additionally, the administration may revisit Schedule F, a policy initially introduced by Trump in 2020. The measure aimed to reclassify a segment of the federal workforce, removing job protections from thousands of civil servants. The order was blocked during the Biden administration but could be reinstated under current leadership. Trump has reiterated his intention to pursue reforms designed to increase accountability in the federal workforce.
DOGE’s new leadership will be central to these policy efforts as the administration moves forward with its cost-cutting agenda and seeks to reshape federal operations in line with President Trump’s second-term priorities.
