Why is Elon Musk becoming Donald Trump's efficiency adviser?

The tech billionaire joins the incoming administration to "dismantle government bureaucracy" - but what's in it for both of them?

British Broadcasting CorporationWatchHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS ElectionUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC InDepthBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessFuture of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsArtsArts in MotionTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthVideoLiveAudioWeatherNewslettersWhy is Elon Musk becoming Donald Trump's efficiency tsar?Watch: Donald Trump and Elon Musk on the campaign trailBillionaire Elon Musk has been tasked with leading incoming President Donald Trump's new Department of Government Efficiency (Doge).

In a statement on social media, the US president-elect said Musk - along with former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy - would "dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure federal agencies".

It is a role that the tech entrepreneur has arguably prepared for through his business leadership, and one he has spent months pushing for.

But it is also one that is expected to garner him influence over government policy - and the regulatory environment facing his enterprises.

Musk told a Trump rally in October that he believed the US government's budget could be cut by "at least" $2tn from about $6.5tn. He has also frequently suggested the number of government employees could be significantly reduced.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpqd4vw0ejeo

---