President Donald Trump clarified on Thursday that Cabinet secretaries will have final authority over staffing decisions, limiting Elon Musk’s role in federal workforce reductions. The directive followed a meeting with Cabinet members where Trump emphasized the importance of reducing government size while maintaining efficiency and retaining top talent.
Trump’s comments came amid growing concerns over the sweeping cuts carried out by Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has sparked lawsuits and resistance from both Congress and federal employees. Although Musk’s department has been pushing for significant job cuts, Trump explained that while Musk’s team could suggest reductions, department leaders would ultimately make the decisions.
“We say the ‘scalpel’ rather than the ‘hatchet’,” Trump noted, stressing that cuts should be strategic. Musk, in turn, has been given the responsibility to intervene if department heads fail to make sufficient reductions. However, the speed and scope of DOGE’s cuts have caused unrest, especially within the Republican Party.
In a bid to address these concerns, Musk met privately with Senate and House Republicans, reassuring them about the ongoing reforms and the goal of reducing waste and fraud in federal agencies.
While Trump praised Musk’s efforts as “amazing,” the president’s recent remarks signal a tightening of control over the ambitious government overhaul, as tensions grow over the potential political fallout.
