On Thursday, US President Trump (Donald Trump) convened a cabinet meeting, emphasizing that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is only responsible for providing recommendations, while decision-making authority should rest with individual departments.
Trump posted on the social media platform “Truth Social” that in the past six weeks, the Department of Efficiency led by billionaire Elon Musk has achieved incredible success. Now that the cabinet is in place, he has instructed the ministers to collaborate with the efficiency department to reduce costs and streamline personnel.
The President held a meeting on Thursday with most of the cabinet members and Musk. This comes after the efficiency department carried out large-scale layoffs of government employees, which has led to some legal challenges as well as criticism from Democratic lawmakers and some Republican officials.
During the meeting, Trump emphasized the importance of reducing the number of employees to an appropriate level, while also retaining the most talented and productive individuals.
“When the ministers understand and are familiar with the department’s personnel, they can precisely determine who stays and who goes,” Trump wrote.
“What we need is a ‘scalpel’ not a ‘axe’,” Trump added.
Trump stated that by uniting the various department heads, Musk, the efficiency department, and other talented individuals, they will be able to accomplish historic achievements.
He ordered a meeting to be held every two weeks until the work is completed.
It is currently unclear whether the new guidelines will result in federally laid-off employees being reinstated.
According to Politico, citing two government officials, Trump told attendees that Musk can provide recommendations to departments but does not have the unilateral authority to make decisions regarding staffing and policies.
Under Trump’s new guidelines, the Department of Efficiency and its employees are to serve in an advisory capacity, while cabinet secretaries are to make final decisions on personnel, policies, and implementation pace.
Musk expressed agreement with the President’s latest directives during the meeting.
Politico reported that a source familiar with the meeting revealed Musk acknowledged that the efficiency department had made some mistakes, which he shared with congress members earlier in the week.
Trump emphasized that he wants to retain talented individuals within the government and not engage in mass layoffs of qualified federal employees.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune suggested during an interview with CNN on Tuesday that cabinet secretaries should retain ultimate hiring and firing authority.