President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to lead a newly announced federal efficiency initiative named the Department of Government Efficiency, or “Doge.”

Musk will partner with biotech entrepreneur and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy on the project, which aims to dramatically reduce government spending and streamline operations across federal agencies.

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Trump unveiled the initiative on Tuesday night, emphasizing his administration’s focus on dismantling what he called “entrenched bureaucracy” and curbing excess government regulations.

Musk and Ramaswamy will serve as external advisors, working with the White House and the Office of Management and Budget to address inefficiencies across the federal government, which Trump says consumes $6.5 trillion annually.

“Our aim is to drive sweeping structural reform, cut wasteful spending, and eliminate unnecessary bureaucracy,” Trump said in a press release.

“With Musk and Ramaswamy at the helm of the Doge initiative, we’ll take on inefficiency and make government work for the people.”

The Department of Government Efficiency is not a formal federal agency, as its establishment would require Congressional approval. Rather, Musk and Ramaswamy’s roles are advisory, allowing them to advocate for cost-cutting measures and structural changes across federal agencies.

Musk, who recently called for $2 trillion in federal spending reductions, has suggested eliminating several agencies that he argues have redundant functions.

Trump likened the Doge initiative to the Manhattan Project, describing it as a critical undertaking with the goal of overhauling government bureaucracy by July 4, 2026, to mark the United States’ 250th Independence Day anniversary.

“Reducing government size and creating an efficient federal system is the perfect gift to America on this milestone,” Trump said.

Musk expressed his support for the initiative, calling it “a necessary jolt to a bloated system.” He also took to his social media platform X, writing, “Threat to democracy? Nope, threat to BUREAUCRACY!”

Ramaswamy echoed Trump’s sentiments, posting that the team “will not go gently.” Ramaswamy also announced he is stepping away from consideration for the Senate seat soon to be vacated by Vice President-elect JD Vance, signaling his commitment to the Doge project.

Trump’s announcement of the Doge initiative came alongside several high-profile cabinet picks.

Former Texas Congressman John Ratcliffe, who previously served as Trump’s director of national intelligence, has been nominated to lead the CIA.

Trump also named Fox News host and Iraq War veteran Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense, a move that has raised eyebrows due to Hegseth’s limited government experience despite his vocal support of Trump’s policies.

Rounding out the national security appointments, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem was nominated as Secretary of Homeland Security.

Since Trump’s election, Musk has been a prominent figure within his inner circle, spending considerable time with the President-elect at Trump’s estate in Palm Beach, Florida.

Musk’s presence in the administration appears to have fueled a surge in the cryptocurrency Dogecoin, which Musk has long supported.

The Doge initiative’s proposed sweeping cuts have stirred debate.

While Musk and Ramaswamy have both advocated for significant workforce reductions and even the closure of major agencies like the Department of Education and FBI, it remains uncertain whether their vision will gain traction in Congress or among the public.

A coalition of leading French newspapers filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the social media platform X, accusing it of reproducing their content without compensation.

The media group includes prominent titles like Le Figaro, Les Echos, Le Parisien, Le Monde, Télérama, Courrier International, Huffington Post, Malesherbes Publications, and Le Nouvel Observateur.

The lawsuit, targeting X and its owner, billionaire Elon Musk, claims the platform is violating “neighboring rights,” a legal provision requiring social media sites to pay news outlets when they share or reproduce news content.

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Under European Union directives adopted into French law, these rights are intended to support media companies whose content is used by digital platforms for commercial gain.

In an earlier emergency injunction, the newspapers, joined by Agence France-Presse (AFP), urged X to disclose commercial data on revenue generated from their content.

In May, a Paris court sided with the media companies, giving X a two-month deadline to provide the requested data, which would allow them to estimate the platform’s earnings from republished news.

According to the media group, X has not complied with the court’s order.

In a joint statement, the newspapers said, “X’s continued failure to act demonstrates an intent to avoid its legal obligations,” arguing that the new lawsuit is essential to enforce the media’s rights.

X has not yet issued a statement on the latest legal action, but the lawsuit adds pressure on social media companies in France and across Europe, where calls for stricter compensation standards for digital platforms have intensified.

President-elect Donald Trump has ruled out two prominent figures from his first administration, announcing that former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley will not return in his new cabinet.

The decision, shared on Trump’s Truth Social network on Saturday, ends speculation about potential roles for Pompeo and Haley, who were both high-profile leaders under Trump in his previous term.

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“I will not be inviting” either of them back, Trump wrote, while expressing appreciation for their previous service to the country.

The announcement comes amid policy disagreements and political tension. In July, Pompeo outlined a hawkish stance on Ukraine, advocating for increased U.S. weapons aid and tough action against Russia’s energy sector.

The proposal appeared to clash with Trump’s campaign pledge to end the Ukraine war quickly, with Trump repeatedly asserting he could negotiate peace within his first 24 hours in office and criticizing extensive U.S. aid to Kyiv.

Meanwhile, Haley, who challenged Trump in this year’s Republican primary before eventually endorsing him, had offered sharp advice during her campaign.

In August, she urged Trump to “quit whining” about Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, underscoring her independent approach and likely complicating her return to Trump’s cabinet.

Trump, however, did announce his first major appointment, naming campaign manager Susie Wiles as his White House chief of staff.

Wiles, praised by Trump for her calm demeanor under pressure, has reportedly earned the nickname “ice baby” for her unflappable nature.

Her appointment marks a historic milestone, as she will be the first woman to hold the position in Trump’s administration.

With Wiles’ appointment, Trump’s new team is beginning to take shape, with further cabinet announcements expected in the coming weeks as he prepares for his second term.