One week after Elon Musk appeared in front of the cameras during President Trump’s first Cabinet meeting, the Cabinet members met again, this time without any press. They gathered in the Cabinet Room for a serious discussion.
In a nearly 90-minute meeting, Trump made it clear that while he supports Musk’s efforts to reduce government size and spending, the agency heads are responsible for staffing their departments. He emphasized, “Keep all the people you want, everybody that you need.” He wanted them to retain talented staff because they are vital for success.
Trump plans to hold these meetings every two weeks. During this session, he indicated he would manage cuts more thoughtfully, like using a “scalpel” instead of a “chainsaw,” which Musk had metaphorically wielded in a previous meeting.
Even though Musk will still make suggestions for budget cuts, Trump made it clear that if the agency heads fail to make the necessary reductions, Musk would step in. “We’re going to be watching them,” Trump stated, adding that if departments don’t act, then Musk would lead the cuts.
The meeting also served as a follow-up after Trump’s Congressional address, where he highlighted his administration’s work over the last six weeks. Despite some Cabinet members being away on official business, topics covered included national security and key priorities.
Trump’s comments on cuts were significant. Agency heads have raised concerns about staffing, some feeling their teams are too small, especially in light of Musk’s push for efficiency. Senate Majority Leader John Thune echoed this sentiment, advising that Cabinet members should take charge of hiring and firing decisions within their agencies.
Recently, there have been murmurs of dissatisfaction among agency leaders regarding Musk’s influence as he aims to reshape government operations. For instance, Musk instructed federal employees to account for their working hours, leading some agency heads to advise their teams to disregard this directive until they could clarify the situation.
Instead of following Musk’s initial demands, agencies sent out revised directives that took back some control over staffing matters. The closed meeting on Thursday was a stark contrast to a more public event early in the week, where Musk received accolades from Trump during a Congressional address.
In the meantime, Musk has been working to address concerns from Republicans and business leaders. White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles has been attentive to the rising criticism and has fostered a cooperative relationship with Musk, urging him to communicate more openly with Congress.
During lunch with Senate Republicans, Wiles explained how the administration functions and how Musk interacts with Cabinet secretaries, which seemed to ease some worries. Following this, 22 Republican senators met with Musk to discuss the cuts he’s implementing. They wanted more clarity about how these changes would be communicated to avoid confusion.
Musk has also distanced himself from rumors of widespread firings, suggesting that department heads should make tough decisions individually. He reassured lawmakers that departments need to decide how to manage staffing effectively.
While Musk offered his cell phone number to senators for future questions, he later suggested they visit the DOGE website for more information, which left some lawmakers feeling somewhat disconnected.
