Billionaire Elon Musk is currently embroiled in a significant power struggle with the Trump administration over the future of the federal workforce. This conflict has arisen from Musk's attempts to implement directives through his U.S. DOGE Service, which have faced resistance from various Trump-appointed Cabinet secretaries.
Over the past several days, more than a dozen federal agencies, led by Trump-appointed officials, have informed their employees that they do not need to comply with Musk's directive to email a list of their weekly accomplishments. This directive has been met with significant opposition, highlighting internal dissatisfaction with DOGE's actions across the federal government.
Musk has responded by publicly criticizing those who resisted his orders, advocating for federal employees to face further scrutiny regarding their work accomplishments. His DOGE team is escalating efforts to overhaul the bureaucracy, including potential layoffs and the cancellation of federal spending, according to confidential interviews with over three dozen government officials.
In recent days, Musk's representatives have instructed the Department of Veterans Affairs to cut more than 800 existing federal contracts. Internal records obtained by The Washington Post reveal that DOGE has implemented a partial freeze on government credit cards, affecting employees who need to bill expenses. Despite resistance from various agency heads, Musk has appointed sympathetic officials at key agencies, including the Internal Revenue Service and Social Security Administration, granting him more leeway to execute his agenda.
Musk announced on X that federal employees would be given a second opportunity to respond to his email, warning that failure to comply would result in termination. He criticized Trump advisers who blocked the request, describing the email task as "utterly trivial" and expressing frustration over perceived incompetence and waste of taxpayer money.
The conflict between Musk and Trump administration officials reveals a tug-of-war over the restructuring of the U.S. government. While Musk has faced setbacks from federal courts, he now encounters opposition from some Republicans in Congress. A dozen agencies have advised employees against responding to Musk's email, including the Justice Department, State Department, and Defense Department.
A former Trump administration official noted that Trump's Cabinet is beginning to understand the significance of their Senate-confirmed positions. Some senior officials received little warning about Musk's email directive and were inundated with questions from their teams about how to respond.
Despite the resistance, at least 11 agencies have instructed staff to comply with Musk's request. The White House has confirmed that President Donald Trump has given mixed signals about Musk's authority, supporting him but not mandating compliance with every directive.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that Cabinet secretaries have discretion over whether employees need to respond to Musk's email, emphasizing that over 1 million employees had replied. Musk's ambitious plans continue to affect federal employees, contracts, and functions, leading to mass dismissals and early retirement incentives.
At the Interior Department, DOGE staff have requested proposals for reducing the agency's workforce by up to 40%. The Department of Veterans Affairs plans to cancel 875 contracts, including those related to medical services and environmental testing, which will save $2 billion from inefficiencies.
Musk's influence extends to key appointments, with Amy Gleason named U.S. DOGE Service administrator and Melanie Krause appointed acting commissioner of the IRS. However, political realities are forcing Musk to adjust his plans, as evidenced by resistance from the Education Department regarding proposed contract cuts.
While Musk's efforts continue to face pushback, analysts note that as long as he has Trump's support, federal agencies must take DOGE's actions seriously. Jessica Riedl, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, highlights the direct line of authority from DOGE to the Oval Office.
Contributors to this report include Lisa Rein, Maxine Joselow, Faiz Siddiqui, John Hudson, and Jacqueline Alemany.
