Elon Musk distances himself from brutal government job cuts as Trump pushes for more ‘precise’ firings

Thousands of federal employees—many of them veterans—have lost their jobs in a sweeping government downsizing effort championed by Elon Musk. But the billionaire insists he’s not responsible.

In private talks with Republican lawmakers, Musk made it clear that he isn’t the one firing people. Instead, he claims individual federal agencies are making those decisions. “Elon doesn’t fire people,” said Rep. Richard Hudson, attempting to shield Musk from mounting criticism. “He doesn’t have hiring and firing authority.”

Yet, Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is at the centre of an unprecedented purge that has left entire agencies gutted. His team has aggressively rooted through federal departments, identifying what they call “waste and inefficiency.” The result? A mass firing spree, with thousands told to pack up and leave.

Even Donald Trump, the driving force behind this radical shake-up, appears to be second-guessing the impact. The president told officials he wanted job cuts handled with a “scalpel” rather than a “hatchet,” cautioning that good workers shouldn’t be swept away in the carnage.

“If they can cut, it’s better,” Trump said. “And if they don’t cut, then Elon will do the cutting.”

Despite Trump’s rhetoric, the numbers tell a different story. Layoffs have hit nearly every sector of the federal government, sparking outrage from employees and unions alike. Some agencies have been forced to reinstate workers, including 180 staff at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), who were abruptly told to return. Their email’s subject line? “Read this email immediately.”

As the bloodletting continues, legal challenges are piling up. A federal judge in San Francisco raised concerns that Musk’s restructuring might be unlawful. Administration officials have since scrambled to clarify that it’s agencies—not Musk or the Office of Personnel Management—making the cuts.

Rep. Carlos Gimenez, one of several lawmakers briefed by Musk, claimed the firings were mishandled at the agency level. “Some of the folks who were probationary employees, he didn’t fire them,” Gimenez said. “They were fired by the agencies—and they messed up.”

But for those already jobless, the blame game changes nothing. Many have spent decades in public service, only to be discarded overnight. The chaos has even rattled senior officials, some of whom have resigned rather than comply with DOGE’s demands.

Musk’s influence in the second Trump administration is unlike anything seen before. His team has been given direct access to agency records, career staff, and policy decisions. Critics argue that his unchecked power is eroding government stability.

Despite the backlash, Musk remains unshaken. “We’re making good progress,” he said as he rushed past reporters on Capitol Hill. He has now promised Republican lawmakers a dedicated phone line to answer their questions about the job cuts—though only Senate Republicans will get his personal number.

Meanwhile, Democrats are calling for urgent action. Over 140 House Democrats, led by Rep. Gerald Connolly, are demanding that all unlawfully terminated employees be reinstated. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries went further, challenging the White House to justify its actions.

“If they want to abolish entire agencies like the Department of Education,” Jeffries said, “bring the bill to Congress. We welcome that fight.”

The White House remains firm in its goal of cutting costs, but the public relations disaster is already unfolding. As fired workers protest, legal battles intensify, and Trump shifts blame, Musk’s role in dismantling the government grows harder to ignore.

One thing is certain: this isn’t over.