President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a non-governmental advisory body tasked with cutting government spending and reducing the federal workforce. While both Musk and Ramaswamy have expressed support for marijuana legalization and psychedelics reform, Ramaswamy has previously advocated for expanding the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), despite his criticism of the broader drug war.
DOGE is expected to focus on reducing federal regulations and cutting costs, with Musk and Ramaswamy aiming to identify the minimum number of employees required to perform an agency’s constitutionally permissible and statutorily mandated functions. Ramaswamy has previously proposed slashing the federal workforce, including the FBI, and building up the DEA.
Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has been a vocal supporter of marijuana legalization and has used social media to express his enthusiasm for the cannabis industry. He has also contributed to a political committee supporting Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who opposed a state marijuana legalization ballot initiative.
Ramaswamy, a former Republican presidential candidate, has also expressed support for marijuana legalization and has proposed federally legalizing marijuana and providing psychedelics access for military veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, he has also taken a more conservative approach to drug policy, advocating for stricter border security and reduced U.S. demand for drugs.
Despite their differences, both Musk and Ramaswamy have expressed support for drug policy reform, including the therapeutic potential of psychedelics. Musk has personally used ketamine for depression treatment and has expressed hope that the new administration will embrace the healing potential of psychedelics.
The appointment of Musk and Ramaswamy to lead DOGE has raised concerns among drug policy reform advocates, who worry that the agency’s focus on cutting government spending and reducing the federal workforce could lead to a reduction in funding for drug treatment programs and other social services.
In a statement, Musk and Ramaswamy said that they intend to “cut costs” and “streamline” government operations, but did not provide further details on how they plan to achieve these goals.
The appointment of Musk and Ramaswamy to lead DOGE is the latest development in Trump’s efforts to reshape the federal government and reduce its size and scope. The agency’s focus on cutting government spending and reducing the federal workforce is likely to be a key part of Trump’s overall strategy to reduce the federal budget deficit and improve the economy.
