President Donald Trump reinforced Elon Musk Takes Lead expanding role in reshaping the federal government on Friday, directing him to focus cost-cutting efforts on the Pentagon. This move highlights Musk’s increasing influence in streamlining federal agencies and reducing opposition to the administration’s policies.
Speaking at a White House press conference, Trump confirmed that Musk would also be scrutinizing the Education Department. This extends his reach across multiple federal agencies, from the Treasury Department to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, where young and relatively inexperienced aides under Musk’s leadership are now embedded.
In just the first three weeks of the administration, Musk’s cost-reduction team has made its presence known in at least 17 federal agencies, according to a tally by The New York Times. Despite mounting scrutiny over the conduct and qualifications of some team members, both Musk and Trump have staunchly defended their actions.
Controversies Surrounding Musk’s Aides
One of Musk’s aides, 25-year-old Marko Elez, resigned on Thursday following a Wall Street Journal report exposing his history of racist posts on X (formerly Twitter). However, Musk swiftly reinstated him, calling for the firing of the journalist responsible for the report. Both Trump and Vice President JD Vance supported Musk’s decision, with Vance stating on X, “We shouldn’t reward journalists who try to destroy people.”
Another team member, Edward Coristine, faced scrutiny over past professional misconduct. According to Bloomberg, Coristine was dismissed from a 2022 internship at Path Network, a data security firm, after an internal investigation linked him to leaked proprietary information.
Legal Hurdles and Pushback
Despite their aggressive actions, Musk’s team has encountered legal obstacles. On Friday, a federal judge temporarily halted efforts to place USAID staff on administrative leave and recall overseas personnel. Additionally, another judge issued an emergency order early Saturday restricting Musk’s team’s access to Treasury Department payment and data systems.
However, neither Trump nor Musk appears deterred by these legal setbacks. Both remain committed to an extensive restructuring of government operations, citing potential savings in the billions or even trillions of dollars.
When asked if any areas of the federal government were exempt from Musk’s cost-cutting mission, Trump responded, “We haven’t discussed that much. I guess maybe some high intelligence matters, and I’ll handle those myself if needed.”
Musk’s Expanding Influence in Federal Agencies
Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency has also extended its presence to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, where insiders report that at least two team members—Nikhil Rajpal and Gavin Kliger—are now listed as employees in the agency directory.
The decision to involve Musk Takes Lead in reviewing the Pentagon’s operations has raised concerns over potential conflicts of interest. Musk’s companies, including SpaceX, hold billions of dollars in federal contracts, with the Defense Department heavily relying on them for satellite launches and other initiatives. In 2024 alone, his firms secured nearly $3 billion across various government contracts spanning 17 agencies.
While Trump had initially assured the public that potential conflicts of interest would be addressed, he dismissed such concerns on Friday. “I’ve instructed him to check out Education, to check out the Pentagon,” Trump stated during a joint press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth responded positively on social media, stating, “Need to cut the fat (HQ) and grow the muscle (warfighters).”
Trump’s Endorsement of Musk Takes Lead Leadership
Trump praised Musk’s efficiency-focused approach, highlighting significant waste and fraud uncovered so far. He pointed to personnel reductions at USAID as an example of the initiative’s impact and suggested that the Pentagon could also undergo substantial changes.
“We probably won’t see as large a purge at the Defense Department,” Trump noted, “but you’ll find some things that are pretty bad.” He made it clear that Musk would have broad authority to scrutinize nearly every aspect of federal operations.
At Friday’s press conference, Trump expressed confidence in Musk’s team despite mounting criticism. “I’m very proud of the job this group of young people—very smart people—are doing,” he said. “They’re working at my insistence. It would be easier not to do this, but we need to expose the corruption.”
When asked about a recent Time magazine cover featuring Musk seated behind the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office, Trump brushed off the magazine’s influence but maintained his strong support for Musk’s efforts.