Indian American entrepreneur and politician Vivek Ramaswamy revealed on Monday that he will be departing from the recently established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to focus on his campaign for the Governor of Ohio.
“It was a privilege to assist in setting up DOGE. I have faith that Elon and his team will effectively enhance government operations,” stated the 39-year-old Ramaswamy in a message on X.
Following his surprising win in the November 2024 presidential election, Donald Trump announced the creation of DOGE and appointed Elon Musk and Ramaswamy to lead the agency.
“I will share more about my future plans in Ohio very soon. Most importantly, we are fully committed to supporting President Trump in making America great again!” Ramaswamy commented just hours after Trump’s inauguration as the 47th President of the United States on Monday afternoon.
The White House acknowledged Ramaswamy’s contributions in establishing DOGE.
“Vivek Ramaswamy was instrumental in the creation of DOGE. His intention to run for office necessitates his withdrawal from DOGE, per the guidelines we laid out today,” said Anna Kelly, a spokesperson for the Trump Team, in a statement to PTI.
“We are incredibly thankful for his efforts over the past two months and look forward to his essential role in advancing our mission to make America great again!” Kelly added.
Ramaswamy is currently deciding on the timeline for his official announcement regarding his campaign for Ohio Governor, which is expected to take place in 2026.
If he wins, Ramaswamy would make history as the first Indian American Governor of Ohio. There have only been three Indian Americans who have previously served as governors in the US: Bobby Jindal in Louisiana and Nikki Haley in South Carolina, both of whom are affiliated with the Republican Party.
He may announce his candidacy for Ohio Governor as early as next week. Ramaswamy previously ran unsuccessfully in the Republican presidential primary but later endorsed Trump, establishing himself as a close advisor.
