President Donald Trump signed an executive order Tuesday, directing U.S. agencies to collaborate with Elon Musk in reducing the federal workforce. The move aims to cut government spending and eliminate inefficiencies.
Standing beside Trump in the Oval Office, Musk, wearing a “Make America Great Again” cap, defended his role in leading the effort. “You can’t have an autonomous federal bureaucracy,” he said, calling it an “unconstitutional” fourth branch of government.
Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) operates with minimal transparency, providing little detail on staff, locations, or specific actions. Critics argue that Musk is executing a non-transparent takeover of government functions. However, he dismissed concerns, citing Trump’s election as a public mandate for reform.
The executive order enforces a strict hiring rule—one new hire for every four departures—and mandates agencies to work with Musk’s team to identify job cuts. Exemptions apply to national security, law enforcement, and immigration roles.
Many federal employees are protected by labor laws and union agreements, complicating large-scale layoffs. Courts have already blocked Trump’s buyout offers and efforts to place certain workers on leave.
Trump and Musk claim their plan will save $1 trillion by eliminating government waste. Musk denied conflicts of interest despite SpaceX’s lucrative government contracts.
Trump criticized judicial rulings that have slowed his plans, saying courts were helping “crooked people cover up the books.” However, he pledged to abide by legal rulings while appealing them.
Musk, in turn, slammed law firms and judges blocking the reforms, calling judicial intervention a “coup against democracy.”
The White House remains firm in its goal of reshaping the federal government despite legal challenges.
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