Trump orders secretaries to work with DOGE
President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he has directed all of his cabinet secretaries to collaborate with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to streamline the workforce. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump praised the Elon Musk-led group for its success, stating that they have been instrumental in identifying areas for improvement.
Trump emphasized the importance of using a “scalpel” approach rather than a “hatchet” when determining which workers will remain in their positions. He believes that by working closely with the secretaries and leadership, DOGE can make precise decisions about staffing levels within various departments. The goal is to retain the most productive employees while eliminating redundancies and inefficiencies.
Following a meeting with most of the secretaries, Trump described the gathering as “positive” and stressed the need to strike a balance between reducing workforce levels and retaining top talent. He announced that similar meetings will be held every two weeks until the necessary adjustments are made.
Despite its success, DOGE and Elon Musk have faced criticism from Democrats for their cost-cutting measures and efforts to access sensitive data. Musk recently met with a group of House Republicans to discuss strategies for identifying up to $1 trillion in government waste.
During the meeting, Musk expressed confidence in DOGE’s ability to achieve significant savings. He acknowledged that mistakes may occur but assured lawmakers that prompt corrections would be made. Democrats have raised concerns about the amount of authority granted to Musk by Trump in pursuit of government efficiency.
In response to the backlash, Harrison Fields, special assistant to the president, reaffirmed Trump and Musk’s commitment to improving government efficiency for American taxpayers. He emphasized that protests would not deter their efforts to establish DOGE and hold the federal government accountable.
The collaboration between Trump’s administration and DOGE underscores their shared goal of cutting costs, improving efficiency, and delivering results for the American people. By leveraging the expertise of Elon Musk and the innovative approaches of DOGE, the administration aims to create a leaner, more effective government that serves the needs of its citizens.
