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With Elon Musk set to scale back his role in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), top officials in President Donald Trump’s cabinet are preparing to reclaim control over agency budgets, staffing decisions, and policy direction, two sources with direct knowledge of internal discussions confirmed.
Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has led the agency since its inception via executive order on Trump’s first day in office. But with his attention turning back to Tesla’s troubled operations, the once-controversial power center may soon face a leadership reset.
Musk’s Reduced Role Sparks Internal Power Shift
On Tuesday, Musk confirmed that he would begin reducing his government engagement to just one or two days per week, potentially marking the end of his direct influence over one of the federal government’s most aggressive reform bodies.
Though officially designated a special government employee, Musk’s involvement had provided political cover for massive cost-cutting reforms, including mass layoffs, contract cancellations, and sharp reductions in public services.
But with Musk’s likely exit in May, several cabinet secretaries—long frustrated with DOGE’s heavy-handed tactics—are expected to take charge.
“The Cabinet will now have more autonomy and no longer need Musk’s sign-off on every decision,” said one government source.
Rising Tensions: Cabinet vs. Musk
Internal disagreements have grown in recent weeks. At a March cabinet meeting, Secretary of State Marco Rubio openly clashed with Musk over damage to USAID programs. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy reportedly confronted Musk about layoffs of air traffic controllers, citing national safety risks.
Cabinet leaders have argued for more targeted budget cuts, opposing DOGE’s sweeping reductions that sidelined agency-specific priorities. Their position is expected to gain momentum with Musk stepping aside.
DOGE Engineers and Internal Shakeup Expected
Musk personally hired a cadre of young engineers, many with little or no government experience, to serve across federal agencies as part of DOGE’s mission. With his retreat, these staffers are expected to face increased scrutiny and a possible reduction in influence.
“The qualifications and authority of these young hires will now be questioned,” a source noted.
Their roles are likely to be reassessed as cabinet secretaries reclaim authority and redirect efforts toward less disruptive reforms.
Official Statements Paint a Different Picture
Despite behind-the-scenes shifts, the White House has pushed back on any suggestion that DOGE’s future is uncertain.
“There will be no changes,” said Harrison Fields, White House spokesman. “DOGE is running effortlessly… almost on cruise control.”
Fields insisted that DOGE was designed to work under Cabinet leadership, and Musk’s presence was never meant to override that authority.
Musk’s Legacy: A Government Overhaul in Motion
Since DOGE’s launch, Musk has aggressively pushed a federal hiring freeze, buyouts, and reorganization directives, including a now-defunct requirement for federal employees to submit weekly performance reports. Many of his former SpaceX and X (formerly Twitter) staff were embedded in agencies to enforce the mandate.
“The large slug of work necessary to get the DOGE team in place and working… is mostly done,” Musk stated this week.
Though Musk downplayed his role, Trump has repeatedly credited him as being in charge of DOGE, further complicating public understanding of who leads the agency.
Who’s Next? Amy Gleason Eyed as Potential Successor
With Musk stepping aside, Amy Gleason, appointed as acting administrator in February, could emerge as a long-term leader. However, she recently stated in a court filing that Musk “does not work at DOGE”, directly contradicting the President.
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This ambiguity has fueled confusion around DOGE’s chain of command—confusion likely to grow as the May transition nears.
Advocates: Less Musk May Mean More Effectiveness
Some policy advocates see Musk’s exit as an opportunity.
“Musk is a lightning rod,” said Tom Schatz, president of Citizens Against Government Waste. “His presence draws attention to whatever he does. It may be more effective now because there will be less attention focused on him.”
A Bureaucratic Machine Already in Motion
Experts say that, regardless of leadership changes, DOGE’s momentum may be too strong to reverse.
“There’s a train that’s left the station,” said Nick Bednar, a law professor at the University of Minnesota. “It’s difficult to stop.”
Bednar noted that many agencies have already internalized DOGE’s cost-cutting priorities, suggesting the culture shift Musk helped initiate will persist even after he departs.
