After Cabinet Showdown, Is Trump Curbing Musk’s Authority?

U.S. President Donald Trump convened a tense cabinet meeting on Thursday to address growing concerns over Elon Musk’s sweeping cost-cutting efforts, marking what could be a turning point in their high-profile partnership.

According to multiple media reports, the closed-door meeting turned heated as Musk clashed with top officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, over aggressive budget cuts and layoffs.

During the meeting, Musk criticized Rubio, accusing him of failing to implement deep enough staffing cuts at the State Department, the New York Times reported. He then offered only backhanded praise, telling Rubio he was “good on TV” but making no mention of his diplomatic work.

Musk also butted heads with Duffy over layoffs at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). According to reports, Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) had attempted to cut air traffic controllers, despite an existing shortage and recent aviation disasters that have put Duffy’s department under scrutiny.

After observing the heated exchanges, Trump reportedly intervened, making it clear that while he still supports DOGE’s mission, cabinet secretaries – not Musk – will now have final authority, with Musk’s team acting solely as advisers.

Trump addressed the issue on Truth Social, writing that he had instructed his cabinet to work with DOGE on “cost-cutting measures.”

“As the secretaries learn about, and understand, the people working for the various departments, they can be very precise as to who will remain, and who will go,” Trump wrote, adding that they should use a “scalpel, not a hatchet.”

The post was seen as a potential attempt to reassert control over Musk’s influence, particularly as legal challenges mount over the billionaire’s unchecked authority.

Musk’s aggressive government downsizing efforts have already sparked multiple lawsuits, with critics arguing that he wields excessive power despite not being a Senate-confirmed official. Several federal judges overseeing these cases have voiced concerns over his influence.

These concerns were heightened on Tuesday when, during his State of the Union address, Trump referred to Musk as “the man in charge of DOGE.”

A Cracked Foundation or Business as Usual?

Despite the apparent tensions, Trump and Musk’s alliance remains intact – for now. On Friday night, Musk was seen boarding Air Force One with Trump for a weekend trip to Mar-a-Lago, signaling that their relationship is far from fractured.

Washington insiders have long speculated about whether this powerful partnership – between the world’s richest man and America’s most powerful politician – would eventually unravel. But so far, each reported rift has been followed by renewed signs of camaraderie.

The cabinet-room dust-up may be the first visible crack in the foundation. But for now, there is plenty of evidence that Trump still supports Musk’s vision – even if he’d prefer that Musk trade in his chainsaw for a scalpel.