WASHINGTON – Members of former President Donald Trump’s cabinet are preparing to reclaim authority over federal staffing and budgeting as Elon Musk reduces his involvement with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), according to two officials familiar with the situation.DOGE, formed by executive order on Trump’s first day back in office and led by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, has driven aggressive federal downsizing—executing mass layoffs, canceling contracts, and scaling back services nationwide.However, Musk announced Tuesday that he will scale back his government involvement to just one or two days per week in order to refocus on Tesla, casting uncertainty on the future of DOGE’s direction. His special government appointment is set to expire at the end of May.While Musk provided crucial political backing for the agency’s controversial cost-cutting measures, his departure signals a potential shift in federal power dynamics. Cabinet officials have long viewed DOGE personnel as overstepping into areas traditionally under their control, such as staffing decisions and budget allocations.Tensions within the Trump administration had been mounting over Musk’s expansive influence. At a cabinet meeting in March, Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused Musk of undermining foreign aid efforts, while Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy raised concerns over proposed air traffic controller layoffs and their impact on aviation safety.Now, without Musk as a dominant force, cabinet members are expected to gain more autonomy, prioritizing selective budget cuts over broad reductions. “The cabinet will now have greater latitude in decision-making without needing Musk’s approval,” one source said.DOGE’s leadership shuffle is also likely to prompt a reassessment of the roles of the young engineers Musk had appointed, many of whom lack government experience. Their influence may wane as scrutiny over their authority grows.White House spokesperson Harrison Fields pushed back on suggestions of a policy shift, stating that DOGE was designed with cabinet-level independence from the start. “DOGE is functioning smoothly. It’s essentially on autopilot, continuing to fulfill the President’s directives,” Fields said.Observers believe DOGE’s mission will persist regardless of Musk’s reduced presence, given existing executive orders and cabinet buy-in. “The reforms have been deeply embedded. They’ll keep moving forward,” said Nick Bednar, a law professor at the University of Minnesota.Musk, a major Trump supporter and head of Tesla, SpaceX, and X, has played a pivotal role in reshaping the federal landscape. From hiring freezes to agency restructuring mandates, his influence has been far-reaching. Weekly productivity reports once demanded from federal employees have mostly ceased, but his structural changes remain.“The heavy lifting to get DOGE operational and push fiscal reforms is largely complete,” Musk said.With Musk stepping aside, the administration may soon appoint a successor. Acting Administrator Amy Gleason, named in February, confirmed in a legal filing that Musk doesn’t currently hold an official position at DOGE—despite Trump’s public claims to the contrary.Tom Schatz, head of the watchdog group Citizens Against Government Waste, said Musk’s departure might benefit DOGE in the long run. “He’s a lightning rod,” Schatz noted. “With him in the background, the agency could operate more effectively without constant spotlight.”
