Vivek Ramaswamy confirmed Monday that he will leave President Donald Trump’s new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), adding that he will “have more to say very soon about my future plans in Ohio.”
The announcement follows Republican Ohio Mike DeWine tapping Lt. Gov. Jon Husted — instead of Ramaswamy — to fill the Senate seat vacated by Vice President JD Vance. Ramaswamy, who was slated to co-chair DOGE alongside Elon Musk, is widely speculated to be mulling a 2026 gubernatorial campaign in Ohio.
“It was my honor to help support the creation of DOGE,” Ramaswamy wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “I’m confident that Elon & team will succeed in streamlining the government. I’ll have more to say very soon about my future plans in Ohio. Most importantly, we’re all-in to help President Trump make America great again!”
It was my honor to help support the creation of DOGE. I’m confident that Elon & team will succeed in streamlining government. I’ll have more to say very soon about my future plans in Ohio. Most importantly, we’re all-in to help President Trump make America great again!
https://t.co/f1YFZm8X13
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) January 20, 2025
Trump created DOGE to serve as an advisory body that would streamline federal agencies controlled by the executive branch, originally naming Musk and Ramaswamy to co-lead the initiative. Ramaswamy attended the inaugural celebrations Monday and posted a photo of himself next to Musk on Twitter.
“A new dawn,” the caption reads.
A new dawn.
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) January 20, 2025
“Vivek Ramaswamy played a critical role in helping us create DOGE,” Anna Kelly, a spokesperson for Trump transition, told the Associated Press Monday. “He intends to run for elected office soon, which requires him to remain outside of DOGE, based on the structure that we announced today. We thank him immensely for his contributions over the last 2 months and expect him to play a vital role in making America great again.”
Ramaswamy initially rose to national prominence after launching a presidential bid in 2023. He dropped out of the race in January 2024 and has since solidified his status as a key ally to Trump.
Ramaswamy, a billionaire, originally amassed his fortune after founding biotech company Roivant Sciences in 2014. There, he focused on acquiring and developing underdeveloped pharmaceuticals — particularly intepirdine, a would-be Alzheimer’s medication. He stepped down as CEO of Roivant in 2021 and wrote a New York Times bestselling book titled “Woke, Inc.: Inside Corporate America’s Social Justice Scam” the same year.
He also prompted a national debate over the H-1B visa program, which critics say undercuts American workers in favor of comparatively cheap foreign labor, in December after accusing American culture of “venerat[ing] mediocrity over excellence.” Trump also weighed in on the debate, calling H1-B a “great program.”
Ramaswamy is a Cincinnati native and has never held public office. He has not yet confirmed his gubernatorial candidacy.
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