Trump Orders Federal Workforce Reduction as Elon Musk Gains Influence in White House

 

Musk Criticizes Bureaucracy While DOGE's Authority Expands Under Trump / AFP

U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order aimed at reducing the federal workforce and imposing restrictions on new hires. This order, signed on February 11, also mandates that federal agencies consult with staff from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, when making hiring decisions.

According to the executive order, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget must present a plan to decrease the size of the federal workforce through efficiency improvements and staff reductions. The order stipulates that for every four employees who leave, only one new hire will be permitted, with exceptions for critical roles in public safety, immigration, and law enforcement.

DOGE, which has spearheaded large-scale government workforce reductions, will see its authority significantly expanded. Each federal agency will now have a DOGE team leader, and agency heads are required to coordinate hiring plans with them. If a DOGE leader opposes a hiring decision, the position will remain vacant unless the agency head intervenes directly.

The Washington Post highlighted that this executive order grants DOGE more power than it has accumulated since the start of Trump’s administration. Before Trump signed the order, Musk held an unusual press conference in the Oval Office, accompanied by his five-year-old son, X Æ A-Xii, and wearing a black MAGA hat. During the 30-minute session, Musk argued for the necessity of reducing government bureaucracy.

Musk criticized federal employees as an "unelected fourth branch of power," questioning the democratic value of a bureaucracy-driven government. He emphasized that cutting federal spending is not optional but essential. Addressing concerns about DOGE’s overreach and potential conflicts of interest, Musk asserted that all DOGE activities are fully transparent.

However, U.S. media outlets have challenged Musk’s claims, pointing out that he himself is unelected and that DOGE's operations lack transparency. The New York Times reported that Musk's companies are benefiting from the federal government reforms led by DOGE. The closure of certain federal agencies and large-scale layoffs have reportedly reduced investigations and regulatory actions against Musk’s businesses.

The NYT noted that at least 11 federal agencies, previously investigating over 32 cases involving Musk's six companies, have been affected by Trump’s government reform agenda. For instance, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), effectively shut down under Trump, had been investigating numerous consumer complaints related to Tesla's vehicle financing practices.

Despite Musk's reassurances, legal controversies surrounding DOGE-led initiatives persist. Court rulings have blocked several policies, including large-scale retirement programs and freezes on federal grants. Recently, U.S. District Judge John McConnell criticized the Trump administration for failing to comply with court orders related to halting federal grant and loan disbursements.

In response, Trump expressed disbelief that judges would obstruct efforts to "root out corruption," suggesting that judicial oversight itself should be scrutinized. Vice President J.D. Vance and Musk echoed this sentiment, calling for judicial impeachments, indicating escalating tensions between the Trump administration and the judiciary.