Trump names Elon Musk to head new government efficiency department

US President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Elon Musk to a role aimed at creating a more efficient government, handling even more influence to the world’s richest man, who donated millions of dollars to help Trump get elected.

Musk, along with former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, will co-lead a newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an entity Trump indicated will operate outside the confines of government.

In a statement, Trump said, “Together, these two wonderful Americans will pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies.”

The newly-elected President said the new department will realise long-held Republican dreams and provide advice and guidance from outside of government, signaling the Musk and Ramaswamy roles would be informal, without requiring Senate approval and allowing Musk to remain the head of electric car company Tesla, social media platform X and rocket company SpaceX.