Washington D C

US President-elect Donald Trump announced on Tuesday (Nov 12) that Tesla CEO Elon Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy will lead the Department of Government Efficiency "(DOGE)."

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"DOGE" is a new department in the US administration introduced by Republicans that will be taking care of cutting federal waste.

Trump said Musk and another stalwart ally, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, would lead a "Department of Government Efficiency ('DOGE')" a tongue-in-cheek reference to an internet meme and cryptocurrency.

"Together, these two wonderful Americans will pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies," Trump said in a statement.

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Also read | Fox News host & Israel supporter Pete Hegseth to be Defence Secretary in Trump's second term

He said the department "will provide advice and guidance from outside of Government," a move that could allow Musk to avoid disclosing his financial holdings.

Musk became a key ally to Trump during his campaign, reportedly spending well over $100 million to help the Republican win and repeatedly boosting Trump's candidacy on X, the platform which he owns.

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The 78-year-old Republican is set to make a triumphant return to Washington on Wednesday, meeting President Joe Biden in the Oval Office.

He may also visit the US Capitol where his party has won a narrow majority in the Senate and is poised to retain control of the House of Representatives.

With just over two months until he takes office, Trump is moving quickly to consolidate an extraordinary comeback.

Governments worldwide are scrutinising Trump's picks for signs of how closely the incoming administration will stick to his promises of an isolationist foreign policy, harsh crackdowns on illegal immigration, and persecution of people he perceives as enemies.

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Hard-liners

Late Tuesday, Trump named military veteran and Fox News host Pete Hegseth as his incoming defence secretary.

"With Pete at the helm, America's enemies are on notice. Our Military will be Great Again, and America will Never Back Down," he said in a statement.

Meanwhile, US media reported that Florida's Senator Marco Rubio would be nominated to the key position of secretary of state.

Trump separately named Congressman Mike Waltz, a former special forces officer, as his incoming national security advisor.

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Waltz has hawkish views on China and is not considered isolationist, despite the desire in some Trump circles for the United States to retreat from foreign engagements and cut obligations to allies like NATO.

Trump also announced he was choosing his former director of national intelligence John Ratcliffe to lead the Central Intelligence Agency.

On the domestic front, Trump has signalled he will back up his extreme election campaign rhetoric aimed at stirring fear and anger against illegal immigrants ahead of promised mass deportations.

On Tuesday, he named South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem as secretary of homeland security, noting she had been the first governor to deploy National Guard troops to help Texas combat illegal border crossings.

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US media reported that Stephen Miller, author of Trump's so-called "Muslim ban" immigration policy during his first term, will hold a powerful position as deputy chief of staff.

New York congresswoman Elise Stefanik, a fierce Trump ally and pro-Israel stalwart, got the nod for UN ambassador, Trump's transition team said.

Another fervent pro-Israel figure, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, was named as ambassador to Israel.

(With inputs from agencies)