Elon Musk and Trump Shift Responsibility Amid Backlash Over Federal Job Cuts

In private meetings with Republican lawmakers, billionaire Elon Musk has reportedly emphasized he is not responsible for the recent wave of mass firings among federal government employees. These cuts have led to substantial public backlash and criticism throughout the United States. Musk clarified, during discussions with legislators who faced frustrated constituents, that the ultimate decisions on hiring and firing rest with individual federal agencies rather than with him personally.

Despite Musk's recent public statements boasting about his involvement in significantly reducing federal employment, and even symbolically wielding a chainsaw at a public event to demonstrate his role, it now appears efforts are being made to reshape his image. Representative Richard Hudson, a North Carolina Republican, said after meeting with Musk that Musk does not directly fire personnel. Instead, he described Musk’s role as merely advisory, highlighting that ultimate authority and responsibility sit with administration officials.

At the same time, former President Donald Trump addressed his cabinet secretaries and reinforced that they are ultimately responsible for hiring and firing decisions, not Musk. Trump stated Musk’s authority is limited to offering recommendations for efficiency and staffing levels to the relevant agencies. The Trump administration initially placed Musk at the helm of a newly established Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), tasking him explicitly with reducing costs and employment figures within the federal government—a step heavily criticized as promoting oligarchy due to Musk's unelected status.

This recent series of comments from Trump and other Republicans marks a substantial shift in their narrative, reframing Musk’s responsibilities and power within the administration. Trump has publicly asked his secretaries to approach the issue of workforce reduction carefully and precisely, aiming to avoid dismissing skilled workers unnecessarily. Notably, the former president mentioned that while he would prefer agencies to manage their own cuts, Musk may become directly involved if adequate measures were not voluntarily enacted.

This evolving positioning by Musk and Trump emerges amid ongoing backlash, extensive public criticism, and legal challenges centered on the matter.