Investing.com– Vivek Ramaswamy, who is President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to co-lead the Department of Government Efficiency with Elon Musk, may leave the group before his tenure even begins, Politico reported on Sunday.
Ramaswamy plans to announce a campaign for Ohio Governor and could leave DOGE by as soon as the end of January, Politico reported, citing a person close to the matter.
Ramaswamy, who had also briefly campaigned for the Presidency, was passed over by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine to replace Vice President-elect JD Vance in the Senate on Friday, with Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted being picked for the role.
Ramaswamy’s exit further complicates the prospect of DOGE’s success, which has set the ambitious goal of cutting government spending by $2 trillion by July 2026. Musk had also recently downplayed this goal, stating that $1 trillion in spending cuts appeared much more feasible.
While the agency has reportedly begun planning its agenda, doubts still persist over just how much sway it will hold in the government, given that the final decision for cutting fiscal spending still falls to Congress.
While Trump is expected to sign executive orders giving the group some authority, its actual regulatory outreach still remains unclear.
Ramaswamy could not be immediately reached for comment.