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Elon Musk Defends Government Cuts at White House, Acknowledges Mistakes

Washington, D.C. — In a rare public appearance at the White House on Tuesday, Elon Musk, President Donald Trump’s most powerful adviser, defended his aggressive push to downsize the federal government. Standing next to the Resolute Desk with his young son, Musk acknowledged that while the effort has exposed “shocking” wasteful spending, there have also been mistakes—and more are likely.

Musk and Trump Expand Government Overhaul

President Trump, praising Musk’s work with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), signed an executive order to expand Musk’s influence. The order gives DOGE greater control over hiring and directs agencies to reduce their workforce, with exceptions for immigration, law enforcement, and public safety.

Under the order:

• A DOGE representative must approve almost all new federal hires.
• Agencies can hire only one employee for every four who leave.
• Leaders must prepare for “large-scale reductions in force”, prioritizing cuts to functions not required by law.

Musk framed these cuts as “common sense”, rejecting claims that they are radical.

“The people voted for major government reform, and that’s what the people are going to get. That’s what democracy is all about,” he said.

Criticism Over Transparency and Accountability

Despite Musk’s assurances, critics say DOGE operates with little transparency or oversight. Musk insisted that information on DOGE’s actions is available online and on X (the social media platform he owns), but:

• The DOGE website contains no public details on its cuts.
• Posts on X lack key specifics, including which programs are being eliminated.

Meanwhile, the White House has taken steps to limit independent oversight. The inspector general for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) was fired a day after warning that DOGE’s actions had made it nearly impossible to monitor $8.2 billion in humanitarian funds.

Musk Acknowledges Errors

Facing scrutiny, Musk admitted that some of his claims about government spending have been inaccurate.

When asked about his false assertion that the U.S. was spending $50 million on condoms for Gaza, Musk conceded:
“Some of the things that I say will be incorrect and should be corrected. So nobody can bat 1,000.”

He also acknowledged that DOGE itself could be making mistakes:
“We are moving fast, so we will make mistakes, but we’ll also fix the mistakes very quickly.”

Federal Workforce in Fear and Uncertainty

With government cuts accelerating, federal employees are growing increasingly anxious. Trump and Musk are pushing a deferred resignation program—a buyout plan offering financial incentives for workers to resign. Over 65,000 federal employees have already accepted the offer, though a judge has paused the program while reviewing its legality.

Across the street from the U.S. Capitol, hundreds gathered Tuesday in support of federal workers.

Voices from the Workforce

• Janet Connelly, a Department of Energy graphic designer, said she’s tired of emails pressuring her to quit. “From the get-go, I didn’t trust it,” she said.
• Helen Bottcher, a former EPA employee and union leader, warned that fear has gripped the workforce: “They’re worried about their jobs. They’re worried about their families. They’re also worried about their work and the communities they serve.”
• Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) condemned Musk and Trump’s approach: “Workers deserve better than to be threatened, intimidated, and pushed out the door.”

A government lawyer, speaking anonymously due to fears of retaliation, described the atmosphere as terrifying.

“People are worried their phones and computers are being monitored. My father is urging me to take a private-sector job, but I don’t trust this resignation program. If we accept it, we can’t sue if we’re not paid what we’re promised. The whole thing is insane.”

The Future of Musk’s Government Reforms

With Musk wielding unprecedented power over federal employment and Trump fully backing his cuts, the impact of these sweeping reforms remains uncertain. Will they lead to efficiency—or chaos?

For now, one thing is clear: Musk’s influence over the U.S. government has never been stronger.

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