As Elon Musk prepares to reduce his time in government, President Donald Trump’s cabinet is set to reassert its authority over the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a high-profile agency Musk has overseen since its inception, according to two senior government officials with direct knowledge of internal deliberations.
Musk, who played a central role in implementing sweeping cost-cutting measures across federal agencies, confirmed on Tuesday that he plans to scale back his government involvement to one or two days a week. The move comes amid renewed tensions between cabinet secretaries and DOGE over hiring authority and budget decisions.
The DOGE, established by executive order on Trump’s first day in office and widely seen as a vehicle for his administration’s anti-bureaucracy agenda, has overseen mass layoffs, cancelled contracts, and downsized public services — efforts that have sparked backlash from within the civil service.
Despite its unpopularity among career officials, DOGE’s work has been politically shielded by Musk’s stature as a billionaire entrepreneur and a key Trump ally in the 2024 election. However, cabinet secretaries are now expected to step in and regain oversight of personnel and funding decisions previously influenced or directed by DOGE.
Cabinet pushes back
Sources familiar with internal meetings said friction had been building for months. During a contentious March cabinet meeting, Secretary of State Marco Rubio confronted Musk over DOGE’s interference with USAID’s operations, while Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy raised alarms over planned cuts to air traffic controllers, citing potential aviation safety risks.
“There was a growing sense that DOGE had overstepped,” one official told Dawn, speaking on the condition of anonymity. “With Musk stepping back, the cabinet sees an opportunity to reclaim authority.”
Trump’s top advisers are now expected to pursue more targeted and strategic spending cuts, distancing themselves from the sweeping, sometimes controversial directives issued by DOGE under Musk’s leadership.
Engineers under scrutiny
DOGE’s future structure remains uncertain. Young engineers recruited from Musk’s ventures such as SpaceX and X (formerly Twitter) may see their roles diminished, the sources said, as cabinet departments reevaluate their influence and qualifications.
“There’s going to be more scrutiny,” an official said. “The question now is whether these individuals, many of whom have little experience in public service, still belong at the helm of key government functions.”
Amy Gleason, named as acting administrator of DOGE earlier this year, is seen as a possible successor to Musk. However, the exact scope of her authority remains unclear, complicated by conflicting statements from Musk and Trump regarding Musk’s official role.
White House denies change in direction
White House spokesperson Harrison Fields downplayed the significance of Musk’s decision to step back, asserting that DOGE remains operationally sound and aligned with the President’s agenda.
“There will be no changes. DOGE is running effortlessly,” Fields said. “The Cabinet already has autonomy. DOGE has simply been a tool to implement the President’s vision of efficiency.”
Nevertheless, watchdogs and legal scholars suggest the momentum Musk generated will likely continue, regardless of his level of involvement.
“DOGE’s ethos has been institutionalized,” said Nick Bednar, a law professor at the University of Minnesota who has tracked the agency’s work. “There’s a train that’s left the station. It’s difficult to stop.”
‘Mostly done’
In remarks on Tuesday, Musk framed his decision as a natural pivot back to his private business interests, including his embattled electric vehicle company Tesla.
“The large slug of work necessary to get the DOGE team in place and working in the government to get the financial house in order is mostly done,” he said.
While some critics have welcomed his departure, others — including DOGE supporters — argue the agency may function better without Musk at the center of public attention.
“Musk is a lightning rod,” said Tom Schatz, president of Citizens Against Government Waste. “With him taking a backseat, DOGE might actually be more effective.”
