WASHINGTON – In a jaw-dropping moment at President Donald Trump’s first Cabinet meeting of his second term, billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk took center stage, wearing a black t-shirt emblazoned with “Tech Support” and making it clear that he is ready to shake up Washington like never before.
“I’m taking a lot of flak and getting a lot of death threats, by the way,” Musk announced, addressing Trump and his top officials. “I can, like, stack them up. But if we don’t do this, America will go bankrupt. That’s why it has to be done.”
Musk, who now leads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has been spearheading a dramatic campaign to slash federal spending, streamline government operations, and eliminate tens of thousands of jobs. His influence in the administration was on full display as Trump jokingly quizzed his Cabinet on their feelings about Musk’s role.
“Is anybody unhappy with Elon?” Trump asked, before adding, “If you are, well, throw them out of here.” The remark drew laughter and applause from the room, reinforcing Musk’s growing power in Washington.
Federal Workforce on the Chopping Block
As part of his aggressive push to reform government spending, Musk recently sent an email to the federal workforce demanding a bullet-point list of five things each employee had accomplished in the past week. Over a million of the 2.3 million federal employees responded, but for those who ignored the directive, Trump issued a stark warning.
“I’d like to add that those million people that haven’t responded, though, Elon, they are on the bubble,” Trump declared. “Maybe they don’t exist.”
Musk doubled down, suggesting that many names on the federal payroll could belong to deceased individuals, adding that another mass email would soon be sent out.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has formally ordered all federal agencies to prepare for sweeping workforce reductions by March 13. A government-wide memo directed departments to initiate large-scale layoffs, eliminate positions, and submit reorganization plans. Musk emphasized that while essential employees would be retained, non-essential jobs had no place in the administration’s vision for a leaner government.
“We wish to keep everyone who is doing a job that is essential and doing that job well,” Musk stated. “But if the job is not essential, well, they obviously should not be on the public payroll.”
Trump Takes Aim at the EU and Ukraine
Beyond the shake-up of the federal workforce, Trump used the Cabinet meeting to unveil major policy moves. He announced impending 25% tariffs on European vehicles and other imports, accusing EU leaders of unfair trade practices. “They don’t accept our cars. They don’t accept, essentially, our farm products. They use all sorts of reasons why not,” Trump said.
The president also revealed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to visit the White House to sign an agreement that will funnel revenue from Ukraine’s mineral resources back to the U.S. as repayment for aid provided since Russia’s 2022 invasion.
The Future of Washington Under Musk’s Influence
With Trump’s endorsement and an iron grip on government efficiency, Musk’s role in reshaping federal operations is only beginning. As agencies brace for job cuts and reorganization, and another round of employee accountability emails looms, Washington insiders are left wondering: Just how far will Musk go in his quest to revolutionize the federal government?
