Trump puts new limits on Elon Musk's authority amid backlash to DOGE cuts
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Trump Limits Musk's Power Over Federal Workforce Cuts
Above: Elon Musk, an advisor to the US Department of Government Efficiency, listens at the first Cabinet meeting of Pres. Donald Trump's second term at the White House on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Washington, D.C. Image copyright: Jabin Botsford/Contributor/The Washington Post via Getty Images
The Spin
Republican narrative
Trump's leadership of DOGE proves he's wielding presidential power to cut waste and fraud, not delegating authority to a rogue billionaire. After Musk got the ball rolling on this historic cost-cutting crusade, Trump's Cabinet secretaries will take the reins while following his vision. Despite baseless lawsuits and mainstream media attacks, Trump's agenda thrives — even liberal polling shows the vast majority of Americans support DOGE.
Democratic narrative
Trump did delegate power to rogue billionaire Elon Musk, whose DOGE used US Marshals to seize a federal agency, sparking lawsuits and chaos. This brazen overreach shows a lawless power grab, not efficiency. If the manner in which DOGE operates wasn't bad enough, the initiative's hype is a facade, with experts showing that Musk has only saved $2B compared to the tens of billions he's claimed. This charade is to distract from Trump's big spending and tax cuts.