**Musk and Ramaswamy Seek ‘Revolutionaries’ for New Cost-Cutting Commission**

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy have officially launched their initiative to dramatically reduce government spending by seeking highly qualified individuals to join their team. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) began accepting applications for staff positions on Thursday, seeking "super high-IQ small-government revolutionaries" willing to commit more than 80 hours per week to the cause.

The announcement, made via a post on X, indicated that successful candidates would be reviewed directly by Musk and Ramaswamy, focusing on those within the top 1% of applicants. However, Musk warned that despite the challenging and potentially unglamorous nature of the work, the compensation would be non-existent. "Indeed, this will be tedious work, make lots of enemies & compensation is zero," Musk stated, adding a note of irony with, "What a great deal!"

President-elect Donald Trump has tasked Musk and Ramaswamy with leading an advisory board aimed at implementing significant spending cuts, eliminating unnecessary regulations, and exploring ways to restructure federal agencies. Among their pronounced objectives are large-scale layoffs and substantial reductions to federal programs. Notably, Musk's SpaceX currently holds $3.8 billion in federal contracts this year, though it is uncertain if this expenditure will be subject to the impending cuts.

Both Musk and Ramaswamy are no strangers to bold and sweeping initiatives. Musk, known for his roles as CEO of SpaceX, Tesla, and owner of X, recently suggested slashing grant funding to nonprofit organizations. Ramaswamy, a former biotech company executive, was a competitor in the Republican presidential primary against Trump earlier this year.

The initiative, humorously referred to by its acronym DOGE, aligns with an internet meme and cryptocurrency but will require congressional approval to become an official federal department. Trump has set a deadline for the commission to present its recommendations by July 4, 2026.

Interest in the initiative appears high, with thousands of replies pouring into the DOGE account on X, including suggestions for spending cuts. Nevertheless, the account emphasized the need for full-time staffers, dismissing the role of part-time idea contributors. While it remains unclear who authors the posts on the DOGE account, Musk's reposts have lent them considerable credibility.