WASHINGTON (AP) — A series of revelations on Friday shed light on the chaos affecting federal agencies since President Donald Trump and Elon Musk embarked on their disruptive campaign, significantly altering government operations in various ways.
Some modifications appeared aimed at boosting political oversight of agencies that have traditionally operated with a level of independence, such as mandating Environmental Protection Agency officials to obtain approval from the Department of Government Efficiency for any contracts over $50,000.
Other mandates increased the burden on federal employees, who have already faced insults, layoffs, and threats from the president and other high-ranking officials. For instance, government credit cards issued to civilian employees at the Pentagon were modified to have a $1 limit, severely restricting their ability to travel for work.
The Transportation Security Administration became yet another target. The administration terminated a collective bargaining agreement with 47,000 workers responsible for screening travelers and luggage at airports nationwide, stripping union protections and possibly paving the way for layoffs or privatization.
The ongoing changes represent only a glimpse of the upheaval that has unfolded since Trump’s inauguration, yet they have already transformed how hundreds of thousands of public servants perform their duties, potentially leading to lasting repercussions. This upheaval is significantly more pronounced than the typical disruptions that occur when one administration hands over to the next, raising critical questions about how government will operate under a president who perceives civil servants as barriers to his goals.
The White House has grappled with political backlash surrounding Musk’s involvement and legal obstacles aiming to hinder or prolong his initiatives. Republicans, facing intensifying pressure in contentious town halls, have begun to voice their concerns.
“I admit, I think Elon Musk sometimes tweets before he thinks,” remarked Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Mich., during a virtual gathering with constituents on Friday. “He has moved forward without necessarily understanding his legal obligations or the consequences of his actions.”
Errors are occurring
The revamp of the federal government is proceeding at a breakneck pace, reflecting years of groundwork laid by Trump’s allies and the president’s decision to give Musk considerable sway over his administration. Musk, a billionaire entrepreneur lacking any prior public sector experience, has shown no signs of wanting to slow down, even acknowledging that he will make mistakes in his quest to reduce spending and downsize the workforce.
Even more significant changes loom in the upcoming weeks and months. Trump has instructed agencies to develop plans for extensive layoffs, referred to as workforce reductions, which will likely necessitate more limited operations at agencies responsible for providing essential services.
The Department of Veterans Affairs may cut as many as 80,000 jobs, while the Internal Revenue Service and the Social Security Administration are considering plans that could halve their workforces.
Trump has pledged not to diminish Social Security benefits; however, Democrats contend that layoffs would complicate the delivery of payments to 72.5 million recipients, including seniors and children.
Concerns also exist regarding the potential for political interference with Social Security. Trump has had disputes over transgender matters with Maine Democratic Gov. Janet Mills, and his administration recently announced that children born in the state would no longer automatically receive a Social Security number at birth, requiring parents to apply for one at a local office instead.
Leland Dudek, acting commissioner of Social Security, rescinded the directive on Friday.
“Looking back, I recognize that terminating these contracts imposed an undue burden on the people of Maine, which was never my intention,” he stated. Dudek added, “As a leader, I acknowledge my errors and will rectify them.”
A startup mentality emerges
Over a month after Trump took office, uncertainty persists regarding Musk’s authority. In public remarks and legal documents, administration representatives have affirmed that Musk does not actually run DOGE and lacks direct authority over budgets.
However, Trump has contradicted those claims. He stated on Tuesday that DOGE is “led by Elon Musk” during a prime-time address to Congress, and he asserted on Thursday that “Elon will handle the cuts” if agency heads do not reduce their expenditures.
This approach has invigorated individuals like David Sacks, a venture capitalist and Trump adviser on cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence, who commended the administration for moving “faster than any startup I’ve been involved with.”
Trump denied reports of tension between Musk and Cabinet officials, especially Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during a meeting on Thursday.
“Elon gets along extremely well with Marco,” the president asserted. The State Department did not provide immediate comments.
Norm Eisen, executive chair of the State Democracy Defenders Fund, an organization currently suing the Trump administration, stated that the president “made it clear that Musk and DOGE have been driving the agenda.”
Musk serves as a presidential adviser, not a Senate-confirmed official, which Eisen argues renders his role unconstitutional. He claimed Trump’s comments are “an acknowledgment that the considerable chaos Musk and DOGE have unleashed without proper authorization and documentation is illegal — thus needing complete reversal.”
Trump utilizes executive orders to transform the government
Many of the sweeping changes in Washington have been triggered by Trump’s executive orders. One order issued last week mandated that agencies create new systems for distributing and justifying payments, allowing for oversight by DOGE representatives.
The EPA issued guidance aimed at ensuring compliance.
“Any assistance agreements, contracts, or interagency agreement transactions (valued at) $50,000 or greater must obtain approval from an EPA DOGE team member,” stated the documents obtained by The Associated Press.
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, the leading Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, expressed that the involvement of Musk’s “unvetted, inexperienced team raises substantial concerns about inappropriate external influence on specialized agency decision-making.”
Republicans have increasingly avoided holding town hall meetings with constituents following backlash from critics utilizing these platforms to express their frustrations.
Some demonstrators gathered outside Huizenga’s district office in Holland, Michigan, demanding answers in person.
“I wish to ask him why he believes someone like Musk can come in and simply dismantle agencies without understanding their functions,” remarked Linda Visscher, a resident of Holland.
She emphasized that while enhancing government efficiency is vital, she disagrees with “simply torching it.”
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Associated Press reporters Lolita Baldor, Matthew Daly, Fatima Hussein, and Matthew Lee in Washington; Joey Cappelletti in Holland, Michigan; and Patrick Whittle in Portland, Maine, contributed to this report.
