President Donald Trump held the first cabinet meeting of his new administration Wednesday, with Elon Musk speaking at the sit-down as the billionaire cost-cutting czar’s authority is challenged in court—and some Republicans raise alarm about his Department of Government Efficiency’s mass layoffs.
Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency, delivers remarks during a Cabinet ... [+]
Musk spoke briefly at the meeting, describing his role as “tech support” and “helping fix the government computer systems” before arguing for deficit cuts and claiming his team could find $1 trillion in cost savings.
The billionaire—seated in the back row—also acknowledged his team could make some mistakes by cutting off important funding.
Trump introduced Musk by touting DOGE, saying, “I think everyone at this table is very much behind” Musk’s email over the weekend asking federal workers to say what they accomplished, under threat of termination—though some federal agencies told staff not to respond, and the administration previously suggested responses are voluntary.
In response to a question from a reporter during the cabinet meeting, Musk later described the email as a “pulse check review” to prevent wages from being paid out fraudulently, rather than a “performance review,” and said his team would allow people to respond that their job responsibilities are too sensitive to describe.
Trump posted hours earlier: “ALL CABINET MEMBERS ARE EXTREMELY HAPPY WITH ELON. The Media will see that at the Cabinet Meeting this morning!!!”
Elon Musk wears a shirt that says "Tech Support" as he speaks during the cabinet meeting.
Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency, sits in the back row at a cabinet ... [+]
Musk has had vast influence over the Trump administration, spearheading efforts to cut staff and reshape or shutter federal agencies, though his official status at the White House is somewhat unclear. DOGE has spearheaded the termination of thousands of employees across numerous government agencies, including the Internal Revenue Service, Transportation Security Administration and federal health agencies. DOGE over the weekend also ordered all federal employees, under threat of termination, to respond to an email titled “What Did You Do Last Week?” with a list of five accomplishments, leading some agencies to direct their employees not to reply and prompting criticism from some Republicans. After some mixed messaging, the White House said agency heads have the discretion to decide if their workers need to respond. Musk’s efforts to make mass layoffs across the federal government—sometimes using tactics that have been criticized as insensitive—have prompted reports of confusion and chaos.
While the Trump administration said earlier this month he is a “special government employee,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Tuesday declined to say who was running DOGE, before outlets later revealed former healthcare executive Amy Gleason was appointed acting administrator of the agency. The Trump administration has insisted in court that Musk “has no greater authority other than senior White House advisors” in response to a lawsuit brought by a coalition of state attorneys general challenging his authority.
These GOP Lawmakers Are Criticizing Elon Musk-Led DOGE (Forbes)