Musk and Ramaswamy's DOGE echoes past budget promises that faced big hurdles

Vows to shrink the deficit, pay down the debt and run government more like a business have long been a stock element of politics. Candidates for office who have business backgrounds made it a mantra.

Musk and Ramaswamy's DOGE echoes past budget promises that faced big hurdles
Tesla CEO Elon Musk (left), co-chair of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), carries his son "X" on his shoulders, as he walks with Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (second from left) and DOGE co-leader, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy (center), before a meeting with members of Congress at the Capitol on Dec 5.

Vows to shrink the deficit, pay down the debt and run government more like a business have long been a stock element of politics. Candidates for office who have business backgrounds made it a mantra.

(Image credit: Roberto Schmidt)