Washington, D.C. – President Donald Trump held the first Cabinet meeting of his second term on Wednesday, setting the stage for his administration’s policy agenda. Among those in attendance was Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who has taken on the role of lead adviser for the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Musk’s involvement has raised legal questions and sparked debate over his influence within the administration.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Musk’s participation during a Tuesday press briefing.
“Considering he is working alongside the president and our Cabinet secretaries, this entire administration will be in attendance tomorrow to discuss DOGE’s efforts and how all Cabinet secretaries are identifying waste, fraud, and abuse within their respective agencies,” Leavitt stated.
Musk’s Role and Workforce Cuts
The meeting comes as the administration pushes forward with DOGE’s controversial plan to implement large-scale federal workforce reductions. Last weekend, Musk posted on X that all federal employees would soon receive an email requiring them to detail their work from the past week or risk termination.
The post reportedly caught senior White House officials off guard, leading to internal tensions. Some agency heads instructed employees to hold off on responding until they received further guidance.
Despite the confusion, Leavitt insisted the administration remains unified in its approach.
“Let me be very clear—the president, Elon, and his entire Cabinet are working as one unified team, and they are implementing these very common-sense solutions,” she said.
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Senate Moves Quickly on Trump’s Cabinet Picks
Meanwhile, the Senate has been swift in confirming Trump’s Cabinet nominees, approving 18 individuals to date. By comparison, in 2021, the Democrat-led Senate had only confirmed 10 of then-President Joe Biden’s nominees at this point in his term.
The confirmations have not been without controversy.
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a Fox News host and military veteran, secured his position after Vice President JD Vance cast the tie-breaking vote amid scrutiny over past misconduct allegations.
- Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced a narrow 52-48 confirmation due to criticism over his history of anti-vaccine rhetoric.
- Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard also faced a close confirmation battle.
Trump Expresses Confidence in His New Cabinet
Reflecting on his first term, Trump has expressed greater confidence in this Cabinet, suggesting that his previous appointments were hindered by his unfamiliarity with Washington politics.
“I think it’s better,” Trump said. “I had some people I didn’t really like so much in my Cabinet. But I didn’t know Washington then—I was a New York person.”
During his first presidency, Trump’s Cabinet meetings often featured members publicly praising him. In a widely discussed 2017 meeting, then-Vice President Mike Pence called his role “the greatest privilege of my life,” leading Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer to release a satirical video mocking the scene.
As Trump embarks on his second term, he has emphasized loyalty and efficiency as top priorities. His administration’s next steps will be closely watched as it moves forward with sweeping policy changes.
