Elon Musk’s Expanding Influence in the U.S. Government Sparks Internal Resistance

Elon Musk’s role in the U.S. government remains a subject of intense debate. While he holds no elected office and has not been confirmed by Congress, his influence is undeniable. Musk has been described as everything from a “co-president” to a senior advisor to President Donald Trump. For insiders within the administration, however, Musk is seen as a disruptive force—an instrument of sweeping government cuts that Trump is wielding with precision.

Musk himself seems to embrace this characterization. Just days ago, he made a public appearance wielding an actual chainsaw, vowing to dismantle bureaucratic inefficiencies. However, his aggressive reforms are now facing significant pushback from within the government, leading to what some are calling an internal rebellion.

Mass Resignations and Institutional Pushback

The most immediate sign of this resistance came from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—the agency spearheading Musk’s efforts to streamline federal operations. In a dramatic show of dissent, 21 civil servants from DOGE submitted their resignations, issuing a joint letter in which they accused the administration of attempting to “dismantle critical public services.” Their departure underscores the growing discontent among career officials who argue that Musk’s approach prioritizes cost-cutting over public welfare.

Musk, however, dismissed the resignations as politically motivated, branding the departing officials as Democratic loyalists who would have been removed regardless. “Fake news,” he insisted, reinforcing his stance that their departure was inconsequential.

Yet, this is far from an isolated incident. Resistance is now emerging from within Trump’s own cabinet. FBI Director Kash Patel and National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard have reportedly instructed their staff to ignore Musk’s directives, particularly an email that was sent to all government employees asking them to report their weekly activities—under threat of termination for non-compliance.

Additionally, major federal departments—including the State Department, the Department of Justice, the Department of Energy, and the Department of Homeland Security—have advised their employees to disregard Musk’s communications. This unprecedented defiance indicates that institutional opposition to Musk’s role is rapidly gaining momentum.

The President’s Defense and Musk’s Unchecked Authority

Despite the controversy, President Trump has stood firmly behind Musk. Defending his advisor’s methods, he stated, “Nobody asked a good question: ‘Tell us what you did this week?’” Trump further justified Musk’s actions, suggesting that government inefficiencies were widespread and needed to be addressed with urgency.

Yet, Musk’s level of authority remains a constitutional grey area. Unlike cabinet secretaries, who require Senate confirmation, Musk has not been vetted or approved by Congress. Officially, the White House denies that he is in charge of DOGE, but Musk continues to take credit for its work. He is even expected to defend DOGE’s initiatives at an upcoming cabinet meeting.

Disputed Cost Savings and Questionable Claims

Musk and Trump have lauded DOGE’s impact, claiming that the department has identified significant waste, fraud, and abuse, leading to billions in savings. Trump has even proposed a revenue-sharing model where 20% of DOGE’s savings would be distributed directly to American citizens, while another 20% would go toward reducing the national debt.

However, many of DOGE’s financial claims have been widely disputed. For instance, DOGE reported nearly $900 million in savings from budget cuts at the Department of Education—yet the agency’s own website lists the actual figure at just $489 million.

Similarly, Musk’s team has claimed to have terminated 2,300 government contracts, but 14% of these terminations reportedly resulted in no actual savings. The department has also been quietly revising its reported savings, deleting five major spending cut announcements after inconsistencies were exposed.

One particularly glaring misstatement involved a supposed $8 billion cost reduction from a canceled Immigration and Customs Enforcement contract. In reality, the contract in question was worth only $8 million—a staggering 99.9% overstatement.

Further concerns have been raised over Musk’s handling of personnel cuts. Recently, DOGE terminated 200 employees at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), but later reports revealed that their salaries were not even funded by the government in the first place.

Growing Opposition and Musk’s Future in the Administration

Musk has acknowledged some of these discrepancies, admitting, “We will make mistakes. We will act quickly to correct any mistakes.” However, his missteps are beginning to erode confidence, and resistance to his role is mounting across Washington.

For now, Trump continues to support Musk’s efforts, but this alliance may not be permanent. Trump’s decision-making is often transactional, and should Musk’s controversies become a liability, his position in the administration may become precarious.

Multiple efforts are already underway to curb Musk’s unchecked influence. Whether this internal pushback succeeds—or whether Musk solidifies his role as a dominant force in Trump’s government—remains to be seen.