The Indian-origin entrepreneur, Vivek Ramaswamy, has stepped down from his role in the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) just hours after Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 47th president of the United States.

Ramaswamy’s departure follows reports of tension with tech billionaire Elon Musk, who was also appointed to lead the panel alongside him.

Ramaswamy’s exit appears to be linked to his plans to run for governor of Ohio, as well as a controversial tweet regarding H-1B visas that drew criticism from some Republican circles.

In the tweet, Ramaswamy criticized the American tech industry’s reliance on foreign workers, suggesting that a cultural preference for “mediocrity over excellence” contributed to this issue.

Sources indicate that Musk had expressed a desire for Ramaswamy to leave the panel, particularly after the backlash from his comments.

Ramaswamy had previously expressed enthusiasm about collaborating with Musk to implement significant cuts to federal expenditures.

On social media, Ramaswamy expressed gratitude for being part of DOGE and voiced confidence in Musk’s ability to lead the initiative. He also hinted at future political plans in Ohio, where the incumbent governor, Mike DeWine, will be stepping down due to term limits in 2027.

Musk’s leadership of DOGE has raised ethical concerns, particularly regarding potential conflicts of interest due to his companies’ substantial government contracts.

Shortly after Trump’s inauguration, DOGE faced a lawsuit alleging violations of federal transparency rules, as critics argue it lacks the necessary balanced representation and public oversight required by law.

Despite the circumstances of his departure, , a spokesperson for DOGE, Anna Kelly praised Ramaswamy’s contributions over the past two months.

Read more

Elon Musk sues OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman for breach of contract

Musk’s AI startup seeks to raise $1bn

Musk sells 7.92 million Tesla shares worth $6.9 billion

She confirmed that he intends to pursue elected office, which necessitates distancing himself from the task force. “We thank him immensely for his contributions and expect him to play a vital role in making America great again,” Kelly stated.

DOGE is a non-governmental task force aimed at finding ways to streamline federal operations, cut programs, and reduce regulations as part of Trump’s “Save America” agenda.

Vivek Ramaswamy has criticized New York City’s decision to lease the Roosevelt Hotel, owned by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), for $220 million to house undocumented migrants.

He argues that this arrangement effectively uses taxpayer money to benefit a foreign government.

The hotel, which has over 1,200 rooms, was closed in 2020 due to financial struggles and is now being reopened under this deal as part of a broader financial strategy linked to a $1.1 billion IMF bailout for Pakistan.