In recent days, tech billionaire and recently hired special government employee Elon Musk has been quietly reminded by the White House that although he has a great deal of almost unheard-of authority to cut spending and reorganize the federal government at a rapid rate, his authority is not unchallenged.
Trump has implied in public and in private that Musk is still a staff member and should answer to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.
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When Musk was informed that he would have to respond to Wiles, a Trump adviser told NBC News, “I’m not sure it was his preferred direction, and it did not seem like he was expecting it.” However, he has been reminded repeatedly that he does indeed report to the chief of staff.
Musk has admitted that she is the team leader at the White House, according to a second person with knowledge of the matter who was given permission to speak anonymously.
Wiles stated to NBC News that she and Musk have a cordial and fruitful working relationship.
A request for comment was not answered by a representative for Musk’s agency, the Department of Government Efficiency.
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Despite saying that he still supports DOGE’s efforts, Trump told reporters on Monday that Musk can only act if we support him. Trump did not specify if he disapproves of Musk’s activities thus far.
If we agree with him, then his only option is to release those he deems undesirable. Trump added, “And only if we agree with him.” Elon cannot and will not do anything without our consent, and we will grant it when it is appropriate. We won’t where it’s inappropriate.
However, Musk, whose project is expected to last 18 months, obviously has access that the majority of regular White House employees do not. According to the source with knowledge of the dynamics and the discussions, Musk and Trump talk on the phone on a regular basis, and the calls are reciprocal.
One individual close to both Musk and Trump stated that the richest man in the world will submit to the most powerful man in the world.
The source acquainted with the situation claims that Trump’s largest political donor has taken up residence in the Secretary of War Suite. Ten rooms make up the historic suite, which is located next to the West Wing in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.
Musk and his crew, some of whom are as young as 19 years old and many of whom have no prior government experience, have dispersed throughout the federal government, treating it like a private enterprise that requires modernization and downsizing.
Despite a longtime top agency official’s protests, Musk has been granted access to the Treasury Department’s payment system and key government databases. According to the source with knowledge of the matter, Musk was able to view payment system data but was unable to influence payments.
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In an effort to reduce the workforce, he and his DOGE team spearheaded a widespread campaign to persuade a significant portion of federal workers to accept deferred resignation. According to an Office of Personnel Management spokeswoman who talked to NBC News on Tuesday, over 20,000 people have accepted the offer, and the number of resignations is rising quickly before the deadline of February 6.
Musk is also advocating for the closure of the U.S. Agency for International Development, a federal agency that has been plunged into crisis due to halted financing and locked-out staff.
Inpostson X, the social networking site he owns and has occasionally used as a sounding board to choose his next target, has seen Musk boast about his accomplishments.
According to a Trump supporter who served on his transition team, Musk is acting quickly out of need.
“He’s delivering on reforms that have been promised not only by Trump but by the conservative movement for 45 years, and he’s doing it at a speed we have never seen before,” the source added. That is the only option because wasting more time would simply force you to become more and more mired in the muck.
The individual who is close to both Musk and Trump but is not directly associated with DOGE commended Musk for his readiness to change aspects of the federal government that required reform.
Despite efforts by those inside the White House to bolster the notion that Musk must adhere to, at least in theory, a chain of command, many believe that Musk is effectively a shadow president due to his rapid pace and early success in upending large portions of the federal government.
According to a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services official who was given anonymity to talk freely out of concern for reprisals, it “feels like Elon Musk is running the government 1,000%.”
The individual continued, “I’m also really frustrated that, as a private citizen and a human, I don’t feel safe expressing my personal opinions because they conflict with those of Elon Musk and others because I’m afraid I’ll lose my job without cause.”
According to a USAID contractor fired following DOGE’s actions, “He’s running way more and has more influence than any one individual.” Once more, unvetted, unapproved by the Senate, and unelected. All of those things are significant, in my opinion. His impact on the White House is amazing.
The Justice Department is another important ally of Musk’s.
Trump’s acting U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, Ed Martin, stated Monday that his prosecutors are getting ready to target anyone who publicly names the tiny group of engineers who are crucial to DOGE’s work. Martin did not say whether federal laws were allegedly broken or who might be prosecuted for naming the Musk engineers.
Martin stated in a statement that “our preliminary examination of the evidence that has been presented to us indicates that certain individuals and/or groups have committed acts that appear to violate the law by targeting DOGE employees.” To move quickly, we are in communication with the FBI and other law enforcement partners.
The announcement was promptly met with a warning from Muck on X: Don’t mess with @DOGE.