Trump Cabinet secretaries detail agency cuts in wake of Musk tensions

President Trump held a Cabinet meeting Monday with billionaire adviser Elon Musk in attendance, where agency leaders emphasized efforts being made to cut programs they deemed wasteful or unnecessary in their respective departments.
Trump went around the room and recognized each Cabinet official, most of whom touted efforts to promote the president's agenda on the economy, immigration and national security issues.
Multiple officials touted cost-cutting efforts, however, which stood out given private disagreements between agency leaders and Musk about slashing the scope of the government.
"We are, with Elon’s help, eliminating the redundancies. We are streamlining our department," Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said his department was working with Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency on efforts to upgrade the nation's air traffic control systems.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins touted that her agency had canceled a $300,000 contract she said went toward educating queer and transgender farmers on food justice and food equality.
Monday's Cabinet meeting was more mundane than the first two Trump held during his second term. The first was dominated by Musk, the CEO of Tesla who has become a near-constant presence around Trump, while the second was marked by reported clashes between Musk and Cabinet secretaries over the rate at which they were firing employees.
Musk sat at the end of the table during Monday's meeting wearing a red hat that said "Trump Was Right About Everything."
-
Trump holds Cabinet meeting with Elon Musk to talk DOGE and tariffs
NBC News' Vaughn Hillyard reports on President Trump's Cabinet meeting with his administration and Elon Musk, where the secretaries and president talked cuts from DOGE and tariffs ahead of their ...NBC News - 1d -
Trump made clear ‘Elon Musk is your partner’ in Cabinet meeting, says Commerce secretary
In an exclusive interview with Meet the Press, Commerce Sec. Howard Lutnick says that President Trump made clear to his Cabinet that Elon Musk is “a partner” in deciding who and what will be cut ...NBC News - Mar. 9 -
Trump holds Cabinet meeting with Elon Musk in attendance
President Donald Trump will gather his Cabinet secretaries as well as Elon Musk for a third known meeting as his administration faces legal challenges over immigration and prepares to unveil new ...NBC News - 1d -
Trump denies Musk clashed with cabinet members
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy pushed back against Elon Musk’s downsizing of the federal workforce in a recent closed-door cabinet meeting, according to two ...NBC News - Mar. 7 -
Trump, Musk fuel fears of Social Security cuts with 'fraud' talk
President Trump and his billionaire adviser Elon Musk are ratcheting up false rhetoric about Social Security, repeatedly claiming the program wastes hundreds of billions of dollars in fraudulent ...The Hill - Mar. 12 -
Musk, Rubio clashed in front of Trump during Cabinet meeting: Sources
During a charged Cabinet meeting Thursday at the White House, Elon Musk clashed with top Cabinet officials, sources told ABC NewsABC News - Mar. 7 -
Trump insists Musk, Rubio have 'great relationship'
President Trump insisted that Secretary of State Marco Rubio and close Trump adviser Elon Musk have a "great relationship" following an explosive report that the two clashed during a contentious ...The Hill - Mar. 9 -
Trump defends Elon Musk, DOGE cuts to federal workforce
President Trump defended Elon Musk and DOGE over the weekend after reported rifts between Musk and Cabinet members. CBS News White House reporter Olivia Rinaldi has more.CBS News - Mar. 10 -
Rubio and Trump Officials Clash With Elon Musk in an Explosive Meeting
Simmering anger at the billionaire’s unchecked power spilled out in a remarkable Cabinet Room meeting. The president quickly moved to rein in Mr. Musk.The New York Times - Mar. 8
More from The Hill
-
Senate confirms Trump's nominee to run NIH
The Senate on Tuesday confirmed health researcher Jay Bhattacharya as the next leader of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Bhattacharya was confirmed on a party line vote, 53 to 47. ...The Hill - 18m -
Senate confirms Trump's nominee to run NIH
The Senate on Tuesday confirmed health researcher Jay Bhattacharya as the next leader of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Bhattacharya was confirmed on a party line vote, 53 to 47. ...The Hill - 18m -
Trump takes aim at Fed
Welcome to The Hill's Business & Economy newsletter {beacon} Business & Economy Business & Economy The Big Story Trump eyes Fed as tariffs, inflation collide President Trump is zeroing in on the ...The Hill - 21m -
Trump takes aim at Fed
Welcome to The Hill's Business & Economy newsletter {beacon} Business & Economy Business & Economy The Big Story Trump eyes Fed as tariffs, inflation collide President Trump is zeroing in on the ...The Hill - 21m -
Schiff, Ricketts introduce bill targeting group they say was involved in Oct. 7 attack
Sens. Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) introduced a bill on Tuesday targeting a group they said was involved in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel for sanctions. The Accountability ...The Hill - 25m
More in Politics
-
Senate confirms Trump's nominee to run NIH
The Senate on Tuesday confirmed health researcher Jay Bhattacharya as the next leader of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Bhattacharya was confirmed on a party line vote, 53 to 47. ...The Hill - 18m -
Senate confirms Trump's nominee to run NIH
The Senate on Tuesday confirmed health researcher Jay Bhattacharya as the next leader of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Bhattacharya was confirmed on a party line vote, 53 to 47. ...The Hill - 18m -
Trump takes aim at Fed
Welcome to The Hill's Business & Economy newsletter {beacon} Business & Economy Business & Economy The Big Story Trump eyes Fed as tariffs, inflation collide President Trump is zeroing in on the ...The Hill - 21m -
Trump takes aim at Fed
Welcome to The Hill's Business & Economy newsletter {beacon} Business & Economy Business & Economy The Big Story Trump eyes Fed as tariffs, inflation collide President Trump is zeroing in on the ...The Hill - 21m -
Schiff, Ricketts introduce bill targeting group they say was involved in Oct. 7 attack
Sens. Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) introduced a bill on Tuesday targeting a group they said was involved in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel for sanctions. The Accountability ...The Hill - 25m