President Donald Trump has declared that decisions regarding reductions in the federal workforce will be made by his cabinet secretaries, rather than Elon Musk or the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). In a post on Truth Social, Trump clarified that while his administration will continue collaborating with Musk and DOGE to trim expenses and personnel, the final say on which employees remain will rest with the leaders of each department.
"We just had a very positive meeting with most of the secretaries, Elon, and others," Trump wrote. "It's crucial to bring levels down to where they should be, but it's equally important to retain the best and most productive individuals."
The president stressed the need for precision in the layoff process, likening it to using a "scalpel" rather than an "ax," indicating that cuts should be selective rather than widespread.
DOGE's aggressive push for reductions has sparked criticism within Trump's cabinet, leading to labor disputes and concerns among Republican lawmakers, who have faced backlash from constituents. Some cabinet members were irked when Musk instructed federal employees to justify their roles or face termination, a directive initially met with resistance by several agencies.
Despite the controversy, Trump praised Musk and DOGE, asserting that they have done "an incredible job" in optimizing government spending. Musk described the meeting with Trump as "very productive," reiterating that DOGE serves as a "support function" to curb fraud and waste within the government.
The Trump-Musk initiative aims to significantly reduce federal bureaucracy by eliminating thousands of jobs and shutting down agencies. Recently, 2,000 employees were laid off from the U.S. Forest Service, 1,000 positions were cut at the National Park Service, and reductions at NOAA are expected to impact 1,300 workers.
The rapid and intense implementation of these measures has raised alarm in Congress, particularly among Republicans demanding greater transparency in DOGE's operations. Some have voiced their concerns to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.
While Trump has curtailed Musk's authority over layoffs, he made it clear that DOGE will intervene if department heads fail to make the necessary cuts. "If they can cut, great. If they don't cut, then Elon will make the cut," the president warned.
The tension between the cabinet, Congress, and DOGE continues to mount as the administration proceeds with one of the most significant federal government restructurings in modern U.S. history.
Insights on Federal Workforce Reductions
Why is President Trump limiting Elon Musk's authority?
President Trump is limiting Elon Musk's authority to ensure that final decisions about workforce reductions are made by cabinet secretaries, providing a more nuanced and department-specific approach.
What has been the reaction to DOGE's workforce reduction strategy?
DOGE's aggressive reduction strategy has faced criticism from within Trump's cabinet, labor disputes, and concerns from Republican lawmakers, leading to backlash among voters.
What are the goals of the Trump-Musk initiative?
The Trump-Musk initiative aims to drastically cut down federal bureaucracy, eliminate thousands of government jobs, and close agencies, ultimately optimizing government spending.