Trump limited Elon Musk's powers: a movement to reduce influence in the government

US President Donald Trump imposed restrictions on Elon Musk's activities in government on March 6, according to Politico.

Is Musk losing his influence in government?

Trump informed members of his administration that Elon Musk only has the right to provide recommendations. However, he cannot make independent decisions regarding personnel and political decisions in the government. This marks the first serious step by the president to limit Musk's powers.

According to the president's new directives, Musk and his team will serve in an advisory role, but final decisions regarding political strategy, personnel policy, and the pace of decision implementation will be made by the Cabinet.

Elon Musk admitted to mistakes

Elon Musk acknowledged that he made some mistakes in line with Trump's statement. He stated that the recent mass layoffs and threats to civil servants were inappropriate.

Trump supports retaining government employees

President Trump emphasized the need to stop mass layoffs of federal employees.

"Elon and other great individuals can accomplish historic tasks, but it is very important to retain qualified specialists in government," he said.

At the same time, the Trump administration continues to lay off tens of thousands of federal employees. This process has already affected important government agencies such as the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the Department of Defense (Pentagon).

According to Pentagon data, over 5,000 employees who were on probation and had worked for a year or less may be laid off. The CIA has also laid off more than 20 employees related to DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) policies.

The wave of layoffs in government continues

Mass layoffs are affecting not only federal agencies but the entire country.

According to the Associated Press, hundreds of thousands of people may become unemployed, especially those who are on probation.

In February 2025, the Trump administration accidentally laid off up to 400 employees from the nuclear security agency. Among them were specialists involved in the production and control of nuclear weapons. Efforts to rehire these employees have now begun.

Trump's restrictions on Elon Musk are being viewed as a serious step to reduce his influence in government. At the same time, mass layoffs in government are intensifying, which could lead to significant changes in public administration. These decisions are expected to become a central topic of political discussion in the coming weeks.