Vivek Ramaswamy, the entrepreneur and former presidential candidate, said that he will leave the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which he co-led with Elon Musk, as it reported that he intends to run for Ohio governor.
“It was my honor to help create DOGE,” Ramaswamy wrote on X on Jan. 20. “I’m confident Elon and the team will succeed in streamlining government.”
Even though Ramaswamy has not yet declared, U.S. media outlets report that he will make his candidacy declaration soon. DOGE spokesperson, Anna Kelly, confirmed his exit by saying, "Vivek played a key role in helping create DOGE. He plans to run for office, and according to our structure, he can no longer remain part of DOGE.
Source: Vivek Ramaswamy
Hints for His Political Plans
Ramaswamy had earlier dropped a hint that he would run for governor. On 18 January he also shared a parody X post suggesting the idea, saying it was "not a bad idea." If confirmed, Ramaswamy would look to replace Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, whose final term ends in January 2027.
According to Politico, though, Elon Musk wanted Ramaswamy out of DOGE due to tensions. A Republican strategist close to Trump's team reportedly said, "He burned bridges with Elon and others in D.C. Everyone wants him out."
Criticism of Work Culture and Legal Challenges for DOGE
Recently, Ramaswamy slammed the American work culture, saying firms hire foreign workers because they like "mediocrity over excellence."
Meanwhile, DOGE, created by an executive order of Donald Trump, is now into litigation. Public Citizen and several other groups have sued DOGE for violating federal transparency laws by allowing private individuals to decide without oversight.
Now only directed by Elon Musk, DOGE's future will instead revolve around the means of dealing with such legal challenges while undertaking the mission to cut government spending.
