DOGE Loses A Leader: Vivek Ramaswamy Steps Down

The 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 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 begin implementing cost-cutting measures.

A New Chapter In Ohio

It seems that Ramaswamy’s departure marks the start of a new phase in his political career. He thanked DOGE for helping him start the group and shared memories of his time there on social media on January 21.

He did not specify what his next move would be, but he indicated that an announcement is coming soon.

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Sources close to Ramaswamy disclose that he is gearing up to contest the governor’s post in his home state, Ohio.

Nothing could be better timed than this, as 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 become a very important figure in Ohio politics and thus a rising star in the Republican Party.

Tensions Within DOGE Before His Exit

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

In December, he published a post on his social media account taking a dig at aspects 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 fact that Ramaswamy is focused both 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 Downsized Ambitions

DOGE, which had promised to reduce the federal budget by $2 trillion, has come under attack for scaling down the target to $1 trillion.

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

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

A Turning Point

Others viewed Ramaswamy bidding adios to DOGE as a deliberate move towards a political position. Others saw it as a step backward.

Ramaswamy is still aiming to “make America great again,” and especially as the Ohio governor election of 2026 approaches.

Featured image from Bloomberg, chart from TradingView