Elon Musk denied accusations of leading a "hostile takeover" of the U.S. government as he made a surprise appearance at the White House on Tuesday. Standing alongside President Donald Trump, Musk defended his role in leading deep federal spending cuts and streamlining government operations.
Trump has tasked Musk with overseeing a major reduction in the size and cost of the federal government through the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (Doge).
On Tuesday, Trump signed an executive order expanding Doge’s authority, requiring federal agencies to comply with its directives on reducing workforce and spending.
Musk defends sweeping government cuts
Speaking in the Oval Office, Musk dismissed concerns about his influence over federal policy and called his cost-cutting measures “common sense” rather than “draconian or radical.”
"The people voted for major government reform, and that's what the people are going to get," Musk said. "That's what democracy is all about."
Wearing a black “Make America Great Again” cap, Musk also referred to federal workers as an "unelected, fourth, unconstitutional branch of government" that holds more power than elected representatives.
Musk’s cost-cutting drive has led to spending freezes, federal employee buyouts, and reductions in international aid, including efforts to curtail the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
Democrats condemn musk’s expanding role
Democrats have strongly opposed Musk’s growing authority, arguing that his unelected position raises concerns about government transparency and conflicts of interest.
"An unelected shadow government is conducting a hostile takeover of the federal government," said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. He pledged that Democrats would introduce legislative measures to block Musk’s initiatives.
Trump and Musk, however, dismissed the criticism. The president defended Musk’s oversight, stating: "If we thought there was a lack of transparency or a conflict of interest, we would not let him do that segment or look in that area."
Despite opposition, Republicans control both chambers of Congress, making it difficult for Democrats to prevent Musk’s reforms. However, legal challenges have slowed some of Doge’s cost-cutting efforts, including a court order temporarily blocking a federal employee buyout program.
Trump signs order to reduce federal workforce
On Tuesday, Trump signed an executive order instructing government agencies to prepare for large-scale workforce reductions. The order mandates that once Trump’s hiring freeze ends, agencies may only hire one employee for every four departures.
"It's not optional for us to reduce federal expenses," Musk said. "It's essential for America to remain solvent as a country."
Trump alleged widespread government waste and fraud, claiming that more than $1 trillion in unnecessary spending would be identified, though he did not provide evidence.
Public divided on musk’s role
A recent CBS News poll indicated that a majority of Americans support Musk’s government cuts, though opinions vary on how much power he should wield. Republicans strongly back his cost-cutting efforts, particularly his push to reduce foreign aid and federal spending.
However, 66% of respondents said they wanted Trump to focus more on lowering prices rather than shrinking government.
USAID faces deep cuts, inspector general fired
One of the hardest-hit agencies under Musk’s reforms has been USAID, which provides U.S. humanitarian and development assistance worldwide.
On Tuesday, USAID’s inspector general was fired, just one day after releasing a critical report on plans to furlough most of the agency’s staff and shut down aid programs globally.
While Musk and Trump argue that federal cutbacks are necessary for economic sustainability, critics warn that these measures could undermine essential government functions and weaken America’s global influence.
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