Trump's inner circle prepares to regain control following Musk's retreat, according to insider reports
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Donald Trump's cabinet members are set to seize control over the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) now that Elon Musk is stepping back from his DOGE role. According to two government insiders with firsthand knowledge, this shift will likely remove barriers and enable the cabinet to push forward with budget cuts and staffing decisions.
Established by executive order during Trump's inauguration, DOGE, overseen by billionaire Musk, has worked tirelessly to ax the federal workforce, slash the deficit, and streamline government services. Musk announced plans to scale back his commitment to government work to one or two days a week, raising questions about the department's future, as his mandate was expected to expire by the end of May.
The billionaire executive has served as a political shield for DOGE as it pursued its cost-cutting agenda, which has sparked fierce opposition from career staffers. Cabinet secretaries view DOGE employees as encroaching on their traditional authority to hire and fire, and some have been resistant to their demands.
Recent weeks have seen tension rise within the White House over the power granted to Musk. During a March cabinet meeting, Secretary of State Marco Rubio sparred with Musk, claiming that he undermined USAID, while Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confronted Musk over proposed air traffic controller layoffs amid aviation safety concerns.
With Musk's diminished role, cabinet secretaries are expected to take the lead in imposing targeted spending cuts, rather than sweeping reductions. This shift will solidify their position at the forefront of federal efficiency and spending strategy.
One insider commented that the cabinet will now have more autonomy and won't need Musk's approval for every decision. Furthermore, the change in DOGE leadership is likely to lead to a review of the roles and responsibilities of the young engineers that Musk initially hired to staff the department. Their influence might wane, and their authority and qualifications may face scrutiny.
White House spokesman Harrison Fields dismissed speculation that Musk's reduction in government work commitments signals a change in direction or influence for DOGE. Fields stated that the agency has always operated under the cabinet's autonomy over spending cuts and that DOGE has only been an element of the agency.
Despite Musk's shift to a part-time role, government watchers anticipate that DOGE's cost-cutting efforts will continue, citing executive orders and Trump Cabinet officials that support the agency's agenda. University of Minnesota Law School Associate Professor Nick Bednar warned that once the train is in motion, it's hard to stop, and government agencies are unlikely to reverse the cuts that DOGE has implemented.
Elon Musk, a prominent Trump supporter and the CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and X, is the driving force behind the government overhaul and has placed loyal lieutenants in key government positions, while dispatching former X and SpaceX employees across various federal agencies. Musk has played a role in numerous White House initiatives, such as federal hiring freezes, buyout offers, and directives to agencies to restructure and reduce their staff. His demand that federal workers detail their accomplishments in weekly emails had initially been enforced by most cabinet secretaries but has now largely come to a halt.
"The large part of the work necessary to get the DOGE team in place and working in the government to get the financial house in order is mostly done," Musk said. With Musk focusing on his businesses, DOGE will need to find a new leader. Amy Gleason, who Trump named as acting administrator in February, has stated that Musk no longer works at DOGE. The arrangement, however, remains unclear with Trump himself claiming on numerous occasions that Musk continues to lead the department.
Tom Schatz, a proponent of DOGE's mission and president of the watchdog group Citizens Against Government Waste, suggested that Musk's departure could make the department more effective. Schatz stated, "With Musk playing a smaller role, it will be... perhaps more effective because of less attention paid to him."
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- The transition in leadership at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) might result in a business policy-and-legislation shift, as Elon Musk, the department's billionaire executive overseer, is stepping back from his daily commitments.
- The cabinet secretaries are expected to take charge, counterbalancing the losses in Musk's leadership, potentially resulting in a more autonomy-driven cabinet with regard to finance and leadership decisions.
- The business community may witness a review of the roles and responsibilities of the young engineers hired by Musk to staff the DOGE, which could lead to a diminished influence and scrutiny of their authority and qualifications.
- With Musk focusing on his private businesses, the DOGE might face the challenge of finding a capable replacement to continue the aggressive cost-cutting agenda, especially in light of general news coverage questioning the department's future once Musk's mandate expires.
- The cabinet's review of the engineers hired by Musk also raises questions about the impact of this review on the department's policy-and-legislation pursuits, as those engineers have been instrumental in driving the department's initiatives.
- The shift in Musk's role within DOGE could lead to a potential realignment in the realm of politics, as various White House initiatives and government departments reliant on Musk's support might face adjustments, including aviation safety and federal hiring processes.
