Trump curtails Musk's authority over federal workforce reductions

In a recent Cabinet meeting, President Donald Trump clarified that Elon Musk, head of DOGE, will serve solely in an advisory capacity regarding staffing and policy decisions within federal agencies. This directive comes after widespread concerns over mass firings and threats to government employees under Musk's leadership, which have led to legal challenges and bipartisan criticism, reports Politico.

President Trump emphasized that while Musk can make recommendations, final decisions on personnel and policy rest with the Cabinet secretaries. Musk acknowledged past missteps and expressed agreement with this new guidance.

The administration has faced backlash due to recent blanket terminations affecting tens of thousands of federal workers across various agencies. Both a federal judge and the chair of a civil service board have noted that these layoffs were not performance-based and may have violated civil service laws. ​To ensure a more measured approach, President Trump announced plans for biweekly meetings between DOGE and Cabinet members. He advocated for using a "scalpel" rather than a "hatchet" in workforce reductions, aiming to retain skilled and productive employees.