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Elon Musk Takes Center Stage in Trump’s Efforts to Reshape the Federal Bureaucracy
WASHINGTON — When President Donald Trump held his first Cabinet meeting of the new term on Wednesday, a table full of prominent figures largely remained passive as Trump, once again, took the spotlight.
The meeting included nominees who have yet to be confirmed, as well as Elon Musk, whose early efforts to reshape the federal bureaucracy have sparked tensions and unease among government employees, alongside growing concerns from some Republicans in Congress.
The Cabinet members are working quickly to carry out Trump’s agenda, but it is Musk, Trump’s billionaire adviser, who is dominating the spotlight, earning praise from Trump, but also facing criticism for his significant role in the early days of Trump’s second term.
“He’s sacrificing a lot,” Trump said, introducing Musk. “He’s getting a lot of praise, I’ll tell you, but he’s also getting hit.”
The meeting made it clear who’s in charge, with many of Trump’s Cabinet secretaries spending much of the hour watching as Musk spoke. The president gave the floor to Musk first, before the Cabinet members were able to engage.
Musk, standing at the edge of a long table, spoke about the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and its mission to reduce fraud and waste in federal spending, stating that it aimed to help departments find a 15% reduction in inefficiencies. He added, “And we bring the receipts,” emphasizing the need for government spending oversight.
Musk’s push for efficiency has faced resistance from several Cabinet members. For instance, some agency leaders, including those at the Justice, Defense, and State Departments, have pushed back against Musk’s directive that required staff to submit weekly reports answering, “What did you do last week?”
Musk claimed the email was merely a “pulse check,” not a performance review, but it caused friction, especially after Trump and Musk warned that non-compliance could lead to firings.
In response to a reporter’s question about Cabinet members’ feelings on Musk’s directives, Trump took to Truth Social to reassure that “ALL CABINET MEMBERS ARE EXTREMELY HAPPY WITH ELON.” He then asked the room, “Is anybody unhappy?” to which the Cabinet broke out in applause, with Musk calling the group “literally the best.”
Although Musk is not an official member of the Cabinet, his presence alongside Trump has been frequent since his election, often at Mar-a-Lago for meetings with senior advisers. Their close relationship seems as strong as ever, with Trump praising Musk’s cost-cutting initiatives, calling them “genius.” Trump even supported Musk’s claim that non-responders to the email could be “semi-fired” or “fired,” later calling it “somewhat voluntary” despite Musk’s firm stance.
The Cabinet meeting on Wednesday highlighted the tension between Trump’s Cabinet leaders, who are tasked with running federal agencies, and Musk, who has been pushing for major staff cuts. Until now, Cabinet members had largely supported Musk’s directives, but the recent pushback suggests growing concerns.
Defending Musk’s email, Trump stressed that those who ignored the request could face consequences.
“Those people are on the bubble,” Trump said. “You know, maybe they’re going to be gone, maybe they’re not around, maybe they have other jobs, maybe they moved and they’re not where they’re supposed to be.”
Later, Trump remarked, “It’s possible that a lot of those people will be actually fired.”
Most Cabinet members stayed quiet during the meeting, with a few stepping in to comment. Trump passed a question on a recent measles outbreak to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a well-known vaccine skeptic, who stated that measles outbreaks are common, with four reported this year and 16 last year. Kennedy also addressed the death of one person from the outbreak, which was the first measles-related death in the U.S. since 2015.
Trump also invited Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to discuss the immigration “gold card” proposal he introduced the day before.
Taking questions from reporters, Trump reiterated his stance on Ukraine, claiming that his presidency could have prevented the war and stopped Russian President Vladimir Putin, who he said “wanted the whole thing.” Trump also criticized the Biden administration’s chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, suggesting that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was a direct result of the U.S. pullout. “In all fairness to Putin, when he saw that, he said, Well, this is our time to go, and go into Ukraine, I guess,” Trump stated.
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