Trump to Cabinet: Musk has no authority to fire workers
Source: Politico
President Donald Trump convened his Cabinet in person on Thursday to deliver a message: You’re in charge of your departments, not Elon Musk.
According to two administration officials, Trump told top members of his administration that Musk was empowered to make recommendations to the departments but not to issue unilateral decisions on staffing and policy. Musk was also in the room.
Musk joined the conversation and indicated he was on board with Trump’s directive. According to one person familiar with the meeting, Musk acknowledged that DOGE had made some missteps — a message he shared earlier this week with members of Congress.
Trump stressed that he wants to keep good people in government and not to eject capable federal workers en masse. But his administration has in recent weeks fired tens of thousands of federal workers across numerous agencies in a series of blanket terminations. A federal judge and the chair of a federal civil service board have both concluded that the terminations were not tied to performance issues — and may have violated civil service laws.
Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/06/trump-cabinet-musk-025093
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brush
(59,565 posts)
Irish_Dem
(68,172 posts)He is totally innocent.
brush
(59,565 posts)And that of course includes TSF who appointed them.
Irish_Dem
(68,172 posts)Claim it is the dept heads, not Musk.
But in reality, Musk is the one doing the firing.
Gaming the courts.
brush
(59,565 posts)which his why these new directives keep having to be made to cover themselves.
Irish_Dem
(68,172 posts)We think they are mistakes. But they most certainly are not mistakes.
The goal is to destroy the US govt and economy, and it is going quite well.
brush
(59,565 posts)is still a mistake in my book.
Irish_Dem
(68,172 posts)To make sure no one ever again works for the federal govt.
Many of the research projects may be ruined whether reinstated or not.
It is all on purpose.
It is dangerous to underestimate what Trump/Musk/Putin are doing.
brush
(59,565 posts)don't screw up, and that their insane policies won't bite them in the ass. For instance NATO, who in the world thinks we're better off bowing out of NATO, which is what TSF has done by siding with Putin over Ukraine, not many sentient beings think we're better off.
ananda
(31,517 posts)flinging sand and shit around the sandbox while Congress
sits on the edges, looks on and applauds.
Everything they do is a huge mistake because that's all
they know how to do.
They are not capable of actually governing and do not
intend to do so.
They want to farm everything out to oligarchs, but still
nothing is going to work because there is no real intelligence
to make it work.
And two little man boys, both with Teenie Weenie Peenie Complexs, fighting to be Putin's #1 in charge of Putin's orders.....
ananda
(31,517 posts)or will they both go down together?
stoned
(334 posts)The admin is trying to keep *everyone* off balance. Its working.
brush
(59,565 posts)trump has fucked up every think/business he has touched. Going bankrupt several times running casinos is not a recommendation as well-run casinos are just about are a license to print money.
trump-run one, or governments...not recommended.
stoned
(334 posts)but I do believe the chaos is the plan and the intended result.
I myself prefer order.
brush
(59,565 posts)and chaos are not related. Hummm?
Kablooie
(18,881 posts)
bluestarone
(19,577 posts)I love the idea of huge lawsuits against musky.
Irish_Dem
(68,172 posts)So they will all be totally immune from law suits.
Bluetus
(951 posts)Last edited Fri Mar 7, 2025, 10:48 AM - Edit history (1)
Exactly. This was the biggest "wink, wink, nudge, nudge" you have seen in a long time.
The courts are saying clearly that OMB (which supposedly is the home of the dogey kids) has no hire/fire authority other than for OMB employees.
But -- wink, wink -- if Elon tells you what to do, and then YOU do it, it is all perfectly legal. Get it?
Irish_Dem
(68,172 posts)
FoxNewsSucks
(11,096 posts)They know there will be no consequences. No punishment. No accountabliilty. No deterrent, and little or no reaction
brush
(59,565 posts)from it's uncontrolled momentum.
NotHardly
(2,062 posts)"Under the bus with you" ... it is the Trump way.
Irish_Dem
(68,172 posts)Trump loves to humiliate his staff and throw them under the bus.
brush
(59,565 posts)Irish_Dem
(68,172 posts)It would literally blow up about every week or so.
NotHardly
(2,062 posts)DemMedic
(400 posts)brush
(59,565 posts)
we can do it
(12,870 posts)
Celerity
(49,340 posts)
sinkingfeeling
(55,052 posts)
Native
(7,057 posts)
slightlv
(5,393 posts)It just feeds the chaos, cause you never know from one hour to the next which way he's going to "rule." The stock market is the biggest loser here. Other than us, because we have no idea if we'll get our gov't checks, if we'll be able to afford groceries, etc. Pure and absolute chaos. And I don't understand why there isn't more being done about it. I mean, Democrats are smart; they CAN walk and chew gum at the same time! And there are even some magas that have had the bloom come off that rose.
What is wrong with OUR representatives? I realize they're not in the majority, but come on... we all know by now that you don't have to be in the majority to scream loud and long and righteously. Magas did it (and still do it) ALL the time. Media won't advertise what you're doing, M. Rep., then come up with a "stunt" to go with the message and the press will be there. And yes, I say "stunt" because like it or not, we're living in a performative society now. Words mean nothing; actions mean everything. Make a fool of yourself on social media and you're guaranteed 100's of followers and more than your 15 minutes of fame. Imagine doing something that doesn't make a fool of yourself, but stands up for the country and the constitution?!
I'm sick and tired of seeing the majority of our minority party sit on their hands and vote against their own members... as well as voting against their constituencies and with trump. Enough already!
AllyCat
(17,800 posts)His own party voted to censure him. Our institutions are not going to save us. Maybe some stuff in the courts.
After November, we said we’d be on our own. We were right. Not sure if we have figured out how to fight back yet. But we must figure this out.
slightlv
(5,393 posts)Green should have been supported by every Democrat in Congress. We put up with all the heckling and screaming from MTG and Bang Bang Bobert for four years without approaching them or censuring them. It's like the Democratic leadership has gone all in with Stockholm Syndrome. Or, I say ruefully, maybe they ARE too old to be governing at this point in history. I say it ruefully because I'm old, and I hate generational biases of all kinds. I feel almost like the leaders are thinking if they just hang in their long enough and keep their heads low, this will all pass over and things will get "back to normal." But trump is making sure there is NO "normal" any longer, no will there be without a lot of exhausting work... work that maybe the leadership thinks they're not up to anymore.
Like I said, I hate ageism, but even at 69 with chronic health issues, even I've had to realize there are some things I can still do, and a lot of others I have to let go of. It's like the old joke about aging... Old age is when the mind says "Go for it!" enthusiastically. And the body responds with "What the actual F*** were you thinking?"
Mr. Evil
(3,248 posts)
Initech
(104,500 posts)Nothing of value would be lost there. 
Lovie777
(18,000 posts)shithole musk republicans are working together to destroy and USA.
no_hypocrisy
(51,161 posts)
Omnipresent
(6,837 posts)For now! Until he changes his mind on a 3 am tweet! 
moonshinegnomie
(3,307 posts)sue for lost wages,emptional distress and anything else they can think of.
i think 1 million per person is a good start
bluestarone
(19,577 posts)He has NO IMMUNITY!
bluestarone
(19,577 posts)Just saying!
madaboutharry
(41,838 posts)Where are these people suppose to work? Newsflash: Nowhere in the government. The agencies have been ordered to RIF (Reduction in Force) thousands of additional federal employees.
The bullshit is unreal. No one should believe a word any of these people have to say. They are on a mission to dismantle the government and they won't stop until the United States of America is a pile of authoritarian rubble.
Ray Bruns
(5,141 posts)
Bengus81
(8,689 posts)
Mysterian
(5,537 posts)"That is all."
lanlady
(7,208 posts)well, that, plus his love of money.
I sincerely wish that the on-again off-again erratic stuff out of His Highness's royal pen will apply to Ukraine. I want to wake up tomorrow and hear that he's changed his mind, Ukraine's our friend, turn the aid back again, Putin is a dickhead. Somewhat I don't think that'll happen
Native
(7,057 posts)all thanks to the US cutting off intelligence. American citizens were in it when it was struck.
Martin68
(25,449 posts)
surfered
(6,202 posts)lapfog_1
(30,798 posts)the fall guy is still the Secretary or Administrator.
That way Trump and Eloon don't get the direct blame.
Lulu Latech
(29,103 posts)This is just Musk trying to get off the hook he hung himself on.
SARose
(1,321 posts)Stock market down again!
Trudeau and Sheinbaum kicked his butt.
Several folks here and elsewhere predicted this complete failure of leadership.
A failure from the Republican Party, the House, the Senate and Republican Governors.
I predict it will be a cold day in Hell before Americans trust Republicans again.
stoned
(334 posts)Insofar as there are bloat and waste, they can be identified and excised like a cancer. This is precise, and precision takes time.
On the other hand, they can "nuke it from orbit" and the re-hire after-the-fact if/when they realize they screwed up and used too big a hammer.
On the other hand, none of this is relevant because this is all political theater designed to de-center "enemies," and its working. This administration is completely unpredictable, and no one knows what's going to happen next. That makes it difficult to counter and plan around.
dchill
(42,009 posts)
CaptainTruth
(7,547 posts)
bronxiteforever
(10,334 posts)by communication and is not entitled to immunity. I see many civil depositions in the future for Mr Musk.
Nasruddin
(993 posts)
oasis
(52,219 posts)Scalded Nun
(1,380 posts)He has no intention of slowing down. To slow down is to possible get stopped. I personally think this as a 'wink and a nod'. He wants to burn the country down to the ground, but has to wait until he gets the flames high enough so that they cannot be put out. He hates the USA. He hates Americans. I personally feel he hates anyone he perceives as happy, possibly because he has never known that emotion. The closest I think he has ever gotten is feeling Schadenfreude. He will be a manifestation of grievance until the day he dies.
GreenWave
(11,056 posts)twodogsbarking
(13,345 posts)Quanto Magnus
(1,110 posts)that is exactly what Musk is doing...
bromeando
(104 posts)Why did trump wait so long
niyad
(123,230 posts)
IcyPeas
(23,455 posts)
stillcool
(33,632 posts)Not. Congress, Judiciary, Executive Branch, a plethora of red states with a permanent Republican majority, and not a peep out of any Republican elected official. Nothing changes, but hey...Democrats suck!!
cstanleytech
(27,538 posts)
ultralite001
(1,536 posts)Access to the data... Access to America's finances... His minions are embedded + are being paid by the US Govt.
His coders have inserted their backdoors... He's got the goods on his competitors... He's trashed agencies that
could bring him grief...
Now, the Musketeer can sit back + blame the implosion on Comrade Krasnov...
Trump is not in charge.
Defacto President Musk is in charge.
Javaman
(63,604 posts)He’s taking a nose dive in the polls( as if those polls even matter) and everyone hates the dogebags guts.
This is nothing more than spin.
People will continue to be fired but they will give the guise that it’s filed through the orange asshole first
As if that’s better
Then the orange asshole will be “magnanimous” when dogebag give him a list of 100,000 he wants fired but the orange asshole will say “no,no,no, too many! the people won’t stand for it, better make it 99,000”
We are a schmuck nation
jmowreader
(52,126 posts)It looks to me like they're laying the groundwork for dumping the entire mess on Elon Musk as a way of deflecting blame from Donald Trump, and that Trump will fire Musk then claim that he got rid of the "rogue employee" who caused the problem.
This won't help him if Congress impeaches Trump over this. We need 20 Republican votes to get rid of Trump, and there are at least 10 states with two GOP senators who are (1) dependent on foreign trade that Trump is fixin' to destroy with his tariff scheme, (2) heavily populated with federal employees DOGE has put in danger or (3) both who, given the proper motivation (like not having to shoot 50,000 pigs or plow under half the crops in the state because no one else in the world will buy that stuff) will vote to get someone else in there.
IronLionZion
(48,488 posts)I hope Carville will be proven right about the public turning against them soon.
elleng
(139,192 posts)HE doesn't know what he 'wants,' he doesn't remember what he says, and he LIES.
tonekat
(2,201 posts)How does that go again?
Eugene
(64,424 posts)It is praised for prioritizing action over planning.
It doesn't mention people getting hurt though.
AmericaUnderSiege
(777 posts)America is unfortunately leaderless.
Godot51
(412 posts)"drumpf has no authority over me".
moniss
(7,048 posts)make the claim in court that, despite Crumb The 1st recently saying Edolph is in charge, that Edolph has no authority to do anything.
Martin Eden
(14,141 posts)The Fascist Grifter waited until AFTER tens of thousands have been fired, and if he wants that to continue which of the sycophants he put in place will openly defy him?
stoned
(334 posts)"unelected bureaucrats"?
Joe Cool
(1,071 posts)Trump was undoubtedly informed by lawyers that he is going to lose in any lawsuit brought forth in court by any federal employee who was fired by Musk.
hadEnuf
(3,110 posts)These absolutely insane cuts by Musk, (with Trump's full knowledge, support and encouragement), are proving very unpopular so now he'll come in and "save the day" and bring Musk under some kind of phony "control".
He can then portray himself as some kind of compassionate king.
Kind of like buying a used car. It's worth $5000 but the dealer wants $10,000. After bantering and fighting the sales manager comes out and says they'll sell it for $7500. He looks like a hero, you think you got a deal and he and the salesman walk away laughing counting their commission money.