Odaily Planet Daily News: According to White House officials, Trump has requested that heads of government agencies coordinate with Musk's Department of Efficiency (DOGE) to "significantly reduce the size of the government" and "limit recruitment to key positions.
The White House briefing document states that for every four departing government employees, each agency can only recruit a maximum of one employee. Excluding roles in law enforcement, national security, immigration, and public safety. It is currently unclear whether the White House Internal Office DOGE has the authority to implement mass layoffs.
On Tuesday, Musk appeared in the Oval Office with Trump to defend his actions, including allowing young employees to move between agencies, gaining access to sensitive computer systems and employee data, and in some cases closing offices and allowing employees to take leave, all aimed at shrinking the size of the government.
Musk stated without providing evidence that the Treasury Department's system lacks "basic controls," including measures to prevent funds from flowing to entities on the "chargeback list," "which is like a large number of blank checks flying out of a building." Trump claimed that DOGE discovered "billions of dollars in waste, fraud, and abuse," but it has also not been confirmed.
Trump has stated that he is willing to apply to Congress for the implementation of some of DOGE's recommendations if necessary. He criticized the federal judge for blocking several actions, but added that he will "comply with the court's rules". A federal judge in Rhode Island said on Monday that the White House did not fully comply with his order to disburse billions of dollars in federal funding. （Fortune）
