Want to apply for a job in the new Department of Government Effectiveness headed by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy? The process is selective and compensation is non-existent, but the advantages in the larger picture can make getting involved value it.
Earlier this week, President-elect Donald Trump created a new Department of Government Effectiveness and put Musk and Ramaswamy in charge of it. Both are tasked with cutting government costs and excessive regulation by July 4, 2026.
Even though it’s only a (*80*) days old, the department said in a post on X that it has received interest from 1000’s of people that want to help it achieve its goals. The interest was so noticeable that DOGE had to explain what it expected from candidates, including the information that Musk and Ramaswamy would evaluate the top candidates themselves.
“We don’t need more part-time idea generators,” the department said published in October on Thursday. “We need small-government revolutionaries with very high IQs who are willing to work 80-plus hours a week on unsightly cost-cutting. If this is you, please send a private message to this account along with your CV. Elon and Vivek will screen the top 1% of candidates.”
We are very grateful to the 1000’s of Americans who have expressed interest in helping us with DOGE. We don’t need any more part-time idea generators. We need small government revolutionaries with very high IQs who are willing to work 80+ hours a week on unsightly cost cutting. If then…
— Department of Government Effectiveness (@DOGE) November 14, 2024
However, after Musk identified some hard truths about job openings, the overwhelming interest in the positions could also be starting to wane.
“Indeed, it will be tedious work that will make many enemies, and the compensation will be zero,” he wrote in: write to X.
While it could appear surprising that work at DOGE is unpaid, unpaid work to enter the market is common. Almost half U.S. interns (47%) weren’t paid in 2022, as were some federal internships unpaid.
In one other post, Musk highlighted the advantages of working at DOGE: the advantages that DOGE employees will bring to the country.
“Even a short stint in government by people of high competence and integrity would help America enormously,” Musk he stated.
DOGE must help the Trump administration cut government bureaucracy, eliminate unnecessary regulations, and cut wasteful government spending – all in lower than two years.
Ramaswamy and Musk are planning weekly live broadcastscalled “Dogecasts” to inform Americans about DOGE’s progress.