In a striking Oval Office moment on Tuesday, Elon Musk defended his controversial efforts to overhaul the federal government, standing alongside President Donald Trump at the Resolute Desk. Musk, who leads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), insisted that the American people voted for reform and that his work is simply carrying out their will.
“The people voted for major government reform, and that’s what the people are going to get,” Musk declared in response to mounting criticism of DOGE’s aggressive changes. “That’s what democracy is all about.”
Musk has led a sweeping effort to shrink the federal government in the first weeks of Trump’s presidency. Under his leadership, DOGE has dismantled agencies, facilitated buyouts of hundreds of thousands of federal workers, and attempted to seize control of key Treasury Department payment systems. The initiative has sparked lawsuits, resistance from Democratic lawmakers, and protests from federal employee unions.
Despite legal roadblocks, Musk insisted that his approach was reasonable. “We’re talking about commonsense controls,” he said, dismissing concerns that his policies were too extreme. He also brushed off questions about potential conflicts of interest, stating, “Transparency is what builds trust.”
Legal Battles and Political Fallout
A federal judge recently ruled to block DOGE from accessing Treasury’s payment systems, limiting the authority of political appointees and special government employees—like Musk and his team. However, on Tuesday, the court clarified that the ruling does not apply to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who still retains control.
The decision has drawn criticism from Trump and his allies. The president, seated at the Resolute Desk as Musk spoke, expressed frustration with the judiciary.
“It seems hard to believe that judges want to stop us,” Trump said. “It seems hard to believe that a judge could say we don’t want you to do that. Then we have to look at the judges because I think it’s a very serious violation.”
Trump also praised DOGE’s work, calling it “crazy” how much “fraud” and “waste” Musk’s team had uncovered in the federal government.
Shifting Government Power
DOGE has already targeted the U.S. Agency for International Development, and reports suggest it is now looking to gut the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. These moves align with Trump’s long-standing criticism of federal bureaucracy, but they have also drawn accusations that Musk and his allies are consolidating power under the executive branch.
Tuesday’s event was as much a political spectacle as a policy announcement. Musk, wearing a black “Make America Great Again” baseball cap, spoke passionately while one of his young children tugged at his coat. The image of the world’s richest man standing next to the leader of the free world sent a clear message: the Trump administration is all in on its fight against what it sees as government bloat—lawsuits and political opposition notwithstanding.
