With the endorsement of President-elect Donald Trump, their mission seeks to streamline government operations through the newly minted "Department of Government Efficiency," or DOGE, named after Musk's favorite cryptocurrency.

Central to the blueprint is a stringent return-to-office mandate targeting remote and hybrid work arrangements. Musk and Ramaswamy believe that such a policy would drive significant taxpayer savings, potentially amounting to hundreds of billions of dollars annually. They envision that many federal employees who cannot commit to a five-day work week in the office will transition to the private sector, thus aiding their reduction goals.

The federal workforce, excluding military personnel, the U.S. Postal Service, and most legislative and judicial branches, comprises over 2 million employees, as highlighted in a September congressional report. Musk and Ramaswamy argue that the reduction in workforce should align with the elimination of corresponding regulations. They estimate mass headcount reductions modeled on Musk's significant cutbacks at Twitter, which saw an 80% decrease in staff.

Targeting a $2 trillion reduction from the nearly $6.75 trillion federal budget, the plan aims for comprehensive reforms, retaining the bulk of mandatory entitlements such as Social Security due to political and legal constraints. They see significant potential for waste reduction within the Department of Defense’s $800 billion budget, particularly after the department’s failure to pass its seventh consecutive audit. However, their immediate focus is on cutting $500 billion in annual discretionary spending controlled by unelected bureaucrats.

Executive orders will play a pivotal role in their strategy. Musk and Ramaswamy contend that recent Supreme Court rulings permit the use of executive orders to strike down regulations that exceed statutory limits, framing such actions as crucial for safeguarding democracy and curbing bureaucratic overreach.

Despite the potential for political fallout, especially in red states with significant federal employment like Alabama and Pennsylvania's 10th District, Musk and Ramaswamy remain undeterred. They are prepared for resistance from entrenched interests in Washington, yet are confident in achieving their objectives within a tight timeframe, aiming to dissolve DOGE by July 2026, ahead of the midterm elections.