Indian-Origin Vivek Ramaswamy Not Part Of Trump’s DOGE As He Plans Ohio Governorship Run; Elon Musk To Lead Department

Vivek Ramaswamy, once handpicked by President Donald Trump to co-lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) alongside billionaire Elon Musk, is no longer part of the newly formed commission.

His departure was confirmed just hours after Trump took office on Monday (21 January).

Ramaswamy’s exit comes as he signals plans to pursue elected office, specifically a gubernatorial run in his home state of Ohio. The decision aligns with DOGE’s operational structure, which prevents active political candidates from serving within the commission.

“Vivek Ramaswamy played a critical role in helping us create DOGE,” said Anna Kelly, a spokesperson for the commission, in a statement, adding that he intends to run for elected office soon, which requires him to remain outside of DOGE, based on the structure announced today.

Ramaswamy, a first-generation Indian American, has built a career at the crossroads of hedge fund investments and pharmaceutical innovation. A Harvard graduate with a law degree from Yale, he amassed a fortune by persuading investors to back pharmaceutical ventures, even when many of the drugs he promoted failed to reach the market.

His political aspirations became evident during his campaign for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, where he positioned himself as a voice for conservative innovation and economic reform.

While his presidential bid ultimately did not succeed, Ramaswamy’s ambitions appear undeterred, as he now eyes Ohio’s governorship.

DOGE, a cornerstone of Trump’s renewed "America First" vision, aims to streamline federal governance by reducing bureaucratic inefficiency and leveraging private-sector expertise. Ramaswamy’s brief but impactful tenure helped lay the groundwork for the commission’s launch.