Trump Advocates for ‘Good People’ in Federal Jobs While Praising Musk’s Bold Moves in Job Cuts

In the wake of substantial federal layoffs, President Donald Trump met with Cabinet members on Thursday, advocating for the retention of effective employees. He expressed a desire to avoid significant cuts that would affect valuable personnel within the government.

During the meeting, Trump mentioned that billionaire Elon Musk could provide guidance to various departments but specified that Musk would not engage in staffing or policy decisions for federal agencies, as reported by POLITICO.

The collaboration between Trump and Musk’s initiative, the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), aims to streamline federal expenditures, resulting in wide-ranging job cuts across the workforce. These layoffs have sparked numerous lawsuits in federal courts and raised questions regarding Musk’s level of influence within the executive branch.

After the meeting, Trump informed reporters that the Cabinet discussions centered around significant reductions in federal employment. He noted that those who are unreliable or fail to show up for work could face termination. “The people that aren’t doing a good job […] can be cut,” he clarified.

According to POLITICO, Musk has acknowledged some missteps within the DOGE initiative. Trump reiterated his commitment to maintaining capable personnel, stating, “We’re going to be watching them, and Elon and the group are going to be watching them. If they can cut, it’s better; if they don’t cut, then Elon will do the cutting.”

The president praised Musk and the DOGE service for their efforts, calling their work “amazing.” While DOGE is not a permanent Cabinet department and operates under an executive order, its mission remains to optimize government efficiency. Trump concluded by emphasizing the importance of eliminating underperforming employees for the nation’s benefit.