Donald Trump has informed his cabinet members that they will be responsible for deciding personnel changes within their respective departments after acquiring the necessary knowledge. This marks a significant shift in the U.S. presidency, potentially limiting the influence of his close associate, Elon Musk. The mass layoffs of federal employees were met with widespread disapproval from the American public.
During a meeting on Thursday, President Trump explicitly told his cabinet that they, not Musk, are in charge of their departments, according to Politico. The billionaire, who heads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), was present at the meeting. Trump clarified that while Musk is authorized to provide recommendations, he is not permitted to make unilateral decisions regarding personnel or policy.
Trump on Layoffs: A Precision Approach
Politico notes that this is the first time Trump has taken steps to curb Musk's influence, signaling a strategic shift. Under the president's new directive, DOGE and its staff are to serve in an advisory capacity, while final decisions on personnel, policy, and the implementation of changes will rest with department heads.
Trump reiterated this stance in a Truth Social post on Thursday:
"As the Secretaries learn about, and understand, the people working for the various Departments, they can be very precise as to who will remain, and who will go. We say the 'scalpel' rather than the 'hatchet.' The combination of them, Elon, DOGE, and other great people will be able to do things at a historic level."
Musk’s Strategy: Aggressive Cost-Cutting
Musk, the owner of SpaceX and Tesla and the world's richest man, made a substantial financial contribution to Trump’s presidential campaign. Following Trump's election victory, Musk was appointed to lead DOGE, a newly established department tasked with drastically reducing administrative costs.
Under Musk's leadership, DOGE quickly initiated extensive budget cuts and pressured federal employees to resign voluntarily. Some of these moves created turmoil, forcing reversals—such as reinstating officials responsible for the U.S. nuclear arsenal—or delays, including halting layoffs of air traffic controllers and other Federal Aviation Administration employees. Reports have surfaced that artificial intelligence is being used to determine which employees should be laid off.
According to American media, tens of thousands of federal employees lost their jobs within the first month of Trump’s administration. The New York Times estimated that by February 26, over 30,000 employees had been dismissed.
Meanwhile, an additional 75,000 federal employees reportedly accepted a "deferred resignation" offer. In exchange for financial incentives, including several months of paid leave, they agreed to resign by February 6. This data, obtained from the Office of Personnel Management and reported by the Associated Press on February 22, highlights the scale of the administration’s workforce reductions.
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