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President Donald Trump is set to hold his first Cabinet meeting today, Wednesday, since returning to office last month, as he seeks to push his agenda forward. The meeting comes after Congress confirmed most of his nominees for key government positions.
Among the attendees is billionaire and close Trump adviser Elon Musk, who has been tasked with overseeing the new “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE). Musk has drawn controversy for his efforts to drastically cut the federal workforce.
Although he does not hold a formal Cabinet position, Musk has been designated as a “special government employee” and a “senior advisor to the president,” giving him control over DOGE, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Controversial Figures in Trump’s Administration
Musk is not the only controversial figure in Trump’s new Cabinet. The administration also includes Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr., known for his anti-vaccine stance; Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who has promoted conspiracy theories; and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News host who has faced allegations of sexual misconduct.
Despite Democratic opposition over the nominees’ records and lack of experience, the Senate has so far confirmed all of Trump’s choices, with the Republican Party holding a narrow majority in the chamber.
The strong GOP backing for Trump’s picks underscores his grip on the party, particularly as many of his critics have either left or been sidelined. Former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was the lone Republican to vote against Kennedy’s confirmation as health secretary, citing concerns from the medical community over his history of spreading vaccine misinformation and his pledge to halt infectious disease research.
Several of Trump’s nominees are still awaiting Senate confirmation, including Labor Secretary nominee Lori Chavez-DeRemer and Linda McMahon, who is being considered to lead the Small Business Administration.
Tensions Rise Within Musk’s Agency
Meanwhile, Musk is already facing turmoil within DOGE. On Tuesday, one-third of the agency’s employees resigned in protest, days after Musk sent an email to nearly two million federal workers demanding they justify their roles or risk being fired.
In response, multiple government agencies advised their employees to either ignore the message or downplay the risks of not responding.
Since Trump’s inauguration, thousands of federal employees have been dismissed, primarily those who were recently hired, promoted, or reassigned. The cuts are part of a broader effort to restructure the federal government and align it with Trump’s vision for efficiency and accountability.
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