US President-elect Donald Trump continued to fill key positions in his second administration on Tuesday.
The new appointments include the US ambassador to Israel and a special envoy for the Middle East.
The Republican leader has put an emphasis on close aides and allies who were his strongest backers during the 2024 campaign.
Musk, Ramaswamy to oversee government efficiency
Trump on Tuesday announced that billionaire Elon Musk will lead a new US “Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)” tasked with cutting federal waste, alongside former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.
The acronym “DOGE” is a reference to the cryptocurrency Dogecoin, a Musk favorite.
During the election, Musk spent over $100 million (€94.1 million) promoting himself as a key Trump ally. Musk also boosted Trump on X, formerly Twitter, the social media platform he owns.
“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.
According to the statement, Musk and Ramaswamy will work from outside the government to offer the White House “advice and guidance.”
Former intelligence boss to head CIA
Trump nominated John Ratcliffe to head up the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
Ratcliffe, a former Republican congressman from Texas, led the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) in the final months of Trump’s first term.
“I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation’s highest Intelligence positions,” Trump said. He called Ratcliffe a “a fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans.”
“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.
According to the statement, Musk and Ramaswamy will work from outside the government to offer the White House “advice and guidance.”
Former intelligence boss to head CIA
Trump nominated John Ratcliffe to head up the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
Ratcliffe, a former Republican congressman from Texas, led the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) in the final months of Trump’s first term.
“I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation’s highest Intelligence positions,” Trump said. He called Ratcliffe a “a fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans.”
