Musk stood next to the Resolute Desk with his young son as Trump praised Musk's work with his Department of Government Efficiency, saying they've found “shocking” evidence of wasteful spending. The Republican president signed an executive order to expand Musk's influence and continue downsizing the federal workforce.
Musk defended DOGE's work as “common sense” and “not draconian or radical.”
“The people voted for major government reform, and that’s what the people are going to get,” he said. “That’s what democracy is all about.”
He said there are some good people in the federal bureaucracy, but they need to be accountable. Musk described the workforce as an “unelected” fourth branch that had “more power than any elected representative.”
The executive order signed by Trump said a DOGE representative will need to approve almost all new hiring, a dramatic consolidation of personnel management across the federal government.
“The agency shall not fill any vacancies for career appointments that the DOGE Team Lead assesses should not be filled, unless the Agency Head determines the positions should be filled,” the order said.
In addition, the Office of Management and Budget will require that agencies “hire no more than one employee for every four employees that depart." There would be exceptions when it comes to immigration, law enforcement and public safety.
Agency leaders were also directed to plan for "large-scale reductions in force." Government functions not required by statute would be prioritized for elimination.
