Vivek Ramaswamy, tapped by President-elect Donald Trump to co-lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) with Elon Musk, appears poised to exit the task force.
Ramaswamy, 39, is expected to launch a gubernatorial campaign in Ohio by late January, sources confirmed to CBS.
“Vivek has worn out his welcome,” one Trump insider remarked.
Tensions between Ramaswamy and DOGE staff have mounted, with Musk allies frustrated over his limited involvement. Subtle nudges to step aside followed. Ramaswamy’s political maneuvering hasn’t gone unnoticed. He recently met Ohio Governor Mike DeWine regarding the Senate vacancy left by Vice President-elect JD Vance. However, DeWine chose his lieutenant governor for the seat, announced Friday.
Ramaswamy, who previously vied for the GOP presidential nomination, made culture wars his signature, railing against “woke” policies. Even as a Trump rival, he treaded lightly, often praising the president. Sources recall Ramaswamy and Musk scribbling DOGE plans on a napkin at Mar-a-Lago but note their collaboration has since fizzled.
Despite its grand title, DOGE is not a federal agency. Trump envisions it as an advisory body to streamline bureaucracy and slash spending by July 2026. Before politics, Ramaswamy thrived as a hedge fund manager and biotech entrepreneur, attending Yale Law with Vance.
