Vivek Ramaswamy, who was appointed by President-elect Donald Trump to co-lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) alongside entrepreneur Elon Musk, is expected to step down from his position shortly, according to CBS News. Multiple sources confirmed that Ramaswamy intends to announce his candidacy for Ohio governor by the end of January.
At 39 years old, Ramaswamy did not offer any public comment on the matter.
According to individuals familiar with the situation, Ramaswamy’s tenure within the task force has been fraught with challenges. Some people close to Musk have expressed dissatisfaction with Ramaswamy’s minimal involvement in critical tasks, and tensions have been building between him and the rank-and-file members of the DOGE team. These sources suggest that Ramaswamy has received indirect encouragement to leave the initiative.
“Vivek has worn out his welcome,” a source close to Trump shared.
Ramaswamy recently met with Ohio’s current governor, Mike DeWine, regarding the vacant Senate seat left by Vice President-elect JD Vance. However, DeWine declared on Friday that he would appoint his lieutenant governor to the Senate position.
Ramaswamy, who had sought the GOP nomination in 2024, spent time at Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s estate in West Palm Beach, Florida, during the transition period. According to sources, Ramaswamy and Musk were spotted together at the bar, jotting down plans for DOGE on a napkin. However, it seems their collaboration has dwindled in recent times, with sources noting that they have not worked closely together for a while.
Politico was the first to report Ramaswamy’s possible departure from the DOGE task force.
In the political sphere, Ramaswamy has been vocal about cultural issues, especially criticizing what he perceives as the rise of “woke” policies that he believes are being imposed on institutions within corporate, academic, and government sectors. Even when running against Trump for the GOP nomination, Ramaswamy refrained from criticizing the former president and was quick to offer praise.
Despite its ambitious title, the Department of Government Efficiency is not expected to function as a formal federal agency. Trump has stated that DOGE’s role will be to provide external guidance and advice, working in collaboration with the White House and the Office of Management and Budget.
According to Trump, the objective of DOGE is to streamline the federal bureaucracy, reduce government spending, and reorganize federal agencies. Trump has set a deadline for the department’s work to be completed by July 2026.
Ramaswamy’s background before entering the political arena includes attending Yale Law School alongside JD Vance. He also gained substantial wealth as a hedge fund manager and through the sale of his stake in a biotechnology company he co-founded.