(Washington, DC) — President Trump made it clear that billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk cannot take action within the government without White House approval. Speaking from the Oval Office, President Trump stated that Musk can only fire officials “that he thinks are no good, if we agree with him and it’s only if we agree with him.”
The comments come amid questions over Musk’s leadership of the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and its demand for access to payment systems used for federal fund distribution. President Trump assured reporters that the White House retains full control, saying, “If we determine there’s an issue, we won’t let him near it.”
Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has declared himself the acting director of USAID, following reports that Musk called the foreign aid agency “beyond repair” and pushed for its shutdown. Over the weekend, two top security officials at USAID were removed after allegedly blocking DOGE representatives from accessing restricted areas. USAID, which manages billions in global aid, now faces an uncertain future under the Trump administration’s cost-cutting measures.
In a related move, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt announced the creation of DOGE-OK, a state-level Division of Government Efficiency modeled after Trump’s initiative. In his state of the state address, Stitt emphasized a push for flat budgets and limiting government while pledging to eliminate wasteful spending. “Left unrestrained, government will always grow and grow and keep growing,” he warned.
The sweeping changes in government oversight have ignited both praise and controversy, with efforts to root out inefficiency clashing against concerns over power consolidation. As agencies undergo restructuring and accountability measures tighten, the long-term impact remains uncertain.