President Donald Trump told his Cabinet that they—not Elon Musk—are in charge of their departments, following backlash over mass firings led by Musk’s agency, DOGE.
Trump convened his Cabinet on Thursday to clarify that Elon Musk can make recommendations but not unilateral decisions on staffing and policy. Musk, who leads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), was in the room and agreed with Trump’s directive.
The meeting comes after DOGE’s aggressive cuts to federal agencies, which have faced legal challenges and criticism from both parties. Courts have questioned Musk’s role, and some judges have suggested the terminations may have violated civil service laws.
Trump posted on Truth Social after the meeting, promising biweekly Cabinet discussions and saying agency heads should use a “scalpel rather than a hatchet” in decision-making.
The directive follows Senate Majority Leader John Thune’s call for Cabinet secretaries to retain full hiring and firing authority. It could impact lawsuits that accuse Musk of wielding unconstitutional power over government functions.
Meanwhile, courts continue to scrutinize DOGE’s actions, with some cases entering a fact-finding phase that could clarify Musk’s influence in the administration.
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