Trump limits Musk’s authority after mass layoffs - Politico
Photo: Elon Musk, billionaire (Getty Images)
During a meeting with the Cabinet of Ministers, US President Donald Trump stated that billionaire Elon Musk has the right only to make recommendations to departments, not to make personnel decisions, Politico reports.
The meeting took place after a series of mass firings and threats against civil servants by Musk, who heads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The department’s actions have faced resistance in court, as well as criticism from Democratic lawmakers and some Republicans.
"The president’s message represents the first significant move to narrow Musk’s mandate. According to Trump’s new guidance, DOGE and its staff should play an advisory role — but Cabinet secretaries should make final decisions on personnel, policy, and the pacing of implementation," Politico states.
Musk, in turn, also joined the meeting and expressed agreement with Trump. In particular, he acknowledged that DOGE "had made some missteps."
The US President noted that he wants to keep good people in the government and not dismiss them en masse.
"But his administration has in recent weeks fired tens of thousands of federal workers across numerous agencies in a series of blanket terminations. A federal judge and the chair of a federal civil service board have both concluded that the terminations were not tied to performance issues - and may have violated civil service laws," Politico notes.
DOGE
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), headed by Musk, is working to reduce government spending within the president’s administration.
Among other efforts, the billionaire’s department has led initiatives to eliminate the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the primary mechanism for delivering US foreign aid.
Furthermore, DOGE has cut the US Department of Education’s budget by more than $900 million.
