Vivek Ramaswamy has stepped down from his role in the newly-established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), just hours after US President Donald Trump took office on Monday. The move comes as Ramaswamy prepares to run for Governor of Ohio, leaving billionaire Elon Musk to lead the cost-cutting operation on his own.
Ramaswamy confirmed his departure in a post on X, stating, “It was my honour to help support the creation of DOGE. I’m confident that Elon and his team will succeed in streamlining the government.”
“I'll have more to say very soon about my plans in Ohio. Most importantly, we're all-in to help President Trump make America great again," Mr Ramaswamy added.
Vivek Ramaswamy, one of the world’s wealthiest millennials, made his fortune in the biotech industry before shifting his focus to politics. He gained attention on the right for his outspoken criticism of identity politics and initiatives promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Ramaswamy has positioned himself as a thought leader within Trump’s populist “Make America Great Again” movement. He endorsed Trump during the GOP primary after finishing fourth in the Iowa caucuses.
Why is Ramaswamy quitting DOGE?
Vivek Ramaswamy has announced his plans to run for governor of Ohio next year. He had also shown interest in taking over the Senate seat left open by Vice President JD Vance, but Ohio Governor Mike DeWine picked Lt. Governor Jon Husted to fill the position instead, according to the Associated Press.
A spokesperson for the commission, Anna Kelly, said, “Vivek Ramaswamy played a key role in helping create DOGE.”
“Since he plans to run for office, he needs to step away from DOGE because of the rules we set. We are thankful for his work over the last two months and are excited for him to keep contributing to making America great again,” she added.
Ramaswamy is still deciding when to officially announce his run for Ohio Governor, which is expected to be in 2026. His announcement could come as soon as next week.
If he wins, he will become the first Indian American Governor of Ohio.
Before this, Ramaswamy ran unsuccessfully in the Republican presidential primary. After that, he endorsed Trump and became one of his close advisors.
So far, only three Indian Americans have been elected as U.S. governors: Bobby Jindal in Louisiana and Nikki Haley in South Carolina, both from the Republican Party.
Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)
After his big win in the 2024 presidential election, Donald Trump announced the creation of DOGE and appointed Elon Musk and Ramaswamy to lead the new agency.
The White House later praised Ramaswamy for his important role in creating DOGE.
DOGE is a non-governmental group tasked with finding ways to cut federal jobs, reduce government programs, and lower regulations. These efforts are part of Trump’s “Save America” plan for his second term.
Musk’s involvement has raised concerns because his company SpaceX has big defense contracts and competes with NASA. His other company, Tesla, could also benefit from Trump’s decisions.
Efforts to shrink the government have often faced resistance, especially when it means cutting programs that many Americans rely on for jobs, healthcare, military security, and daily needs.