Ramaswamy leaves DOGE: Musk remains at the helm alone

The entrepreneur and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy is stepping down from his position as co-director of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to run for governor of Ohio. This unexpected departure leaves Elon Musk as the sole leader of this controversial new federal organization, created by presidential decree.

Elon Musk remains the sole head of the DOGE

On January 20, Vivek Ramaswamy officially announced on social media platform X his withdrawal from the DOGE, a structure he had helped establish alongside Elon Musk.

This announcement comes as several American media outlets, including CBS News and the New York Times, report on his likely candidacy for the governor of Ohio, a state whose current Governor Mike DeWine’s term will end in January 2027.

Anna Kelly, spokesperson for the DOGE, confirmed to the Associated Press that this departure was linked to Ramaswamy’s future political ambitions, as the department’s structure requires a strict separation from any electoral activity.

According to reports by Politico, Elon Musk himself is said to have pushed for this separation, after the emergence of growing disagreements between the two leaders.

Ramaswamy’s departure occurs in a particularly delicate context for the DOGE, which is already facing legal action from several organizations, including Public Citizen, challenging its legality under the Federal Advisory Committee Act.

A department under fire

Ramaswamy’s departure comes at a critical moment for the DOGE, which is already facing significant legal hurdles. The organization, whose name refers to the Dogecoin crypto, favored by Elon Musk, is currently targeted by lawsuits from Public Citizen and other nonprofit organizations.

These lawsuits, filed as soon as Trump took office, challenge the legality of the DOGE under the Federal Advisory Committee Act.

The initiative, which aims to drastically reduce federal spending through budget cuts and job eliminations, is now under the exclusive direction of Elon Musk.

This new configuration raises questions about the organization’s ability to achieve its ambitious goals of government streamlining, especially as legal challenges accumulate.

In summary, this sudden departure of Ramaswamy leaves many questions about the future and effectiveness of the DOGE. Elon Musk finds himself alone at the helm of an already contested organization, while his former partner turns to new political ambitions in Ohio.