Summary

Trump has signaled a shift in DOGE’s operations, instructing Cabinet Secretaries to work with Musk on more precise cost-cutting measures, using a “scalpel rather than the hatchet.”

This follows legal setbacks, including a judge ruling that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), controlled by Musk, likely illegally directed mass firings, prompting the office to change its guidance.

While Trump maintains Musk will still “do the cutting” if Cabinet members don’t, critics like Norm Eisen argue this “attempted backtrack” acknowledges previous actions were illegal.

Multiple lawsuits challenge Musk’s appointment as unconstitutional, with one judge noting concern about “unchecked authority of an unelected individual.”