WASHINGTON: Elon Musk is expanding his influence over U.S. federal agencies, which has frustrated some top aides to President Donald Trump. According to four sources, they want better coordination from Musk’s team as he slashes government jobs.
Trump’s chief of staff, Susie Wiles, and her team often feel left out. Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is firing thousands of federal workers, accessing sensitive data, and disrupting operations. Wiles and some aides recently spoke to Musk about these concerns, one source said.
Musk spoke to reporters at the White House on Tuesday. He claimed his team and Trump were aligned. But tensions remain. Balancing Trump’s core team with Musk’s DOGE staff is proving difficult. The restructuring has defied Congress and sparked lawsuits.
In a recent discussion, Wiles and her staff told Musk, “We need to message all this. We need to be looped in,” one source said. It is unclear if Musk made changes after the conversation. Trump still speaks highly of Musk to donors and allies.
Musk did not respond to requests for comment and the White House declined to comment. An official dismissed claims of tensions. The official said early “hiccups” were resolved. Musk sends reports to Wiles daily, and they talk almost every day.
Musk decided to bring his four-year-old son to his Tuesday press conference. “He showed up with his kid. We rolled with it,” the official said.
On Tuesday, Trump signed an executive order expanding Musk’s power. It forces agencies to work with DOGE to cut jobs and limit hiring. Every agency must have a DOGE “team lead” overseeing hiring.
“This is a unified team,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday. “Elon Musk serves at the president’s pleasure, just like everyone else. He takes directives from the president.”
Later, Leavitt dismissed the report. “This story is complete bullshit from unknown sources who have no idea what they are talking about,” she told Reuters.
At the Oval Office press conference, Musk defended his role. He called his work transparent and in the public’s interest. “The people voted for major government reform, and that’s what they will get,” he said.
DOGE operates in secrecy. It does not disclose employees, locations, or actions. It shares only dollar figures for budget cuts, without details. DOGE members have entered at least 15 agencies, accessing sensitive data. The White House says Musk’s financial disclosures will remain private.
One source said Wiles supports cutting government jobs but dislikes Musk’s approach. As Trump’s campaign manager, she wants more communication and order, the source said.
A fourth source described deeper friction. Wiles’ aides feel uneasy about Musk’s social media posts. “They’re finding things out on Twitter,” the source said.
A major issue involves emails Musk’s team sent to federal employees. A January 28 message offered two million workers financial incentives to quit. Wiles and her team did not approve some emails, said two sources.
Many Trump allies enjoy Musk’s aggressive style. But not everyone backs him, Reuters interviews show.
Musk spent over $250 million to help Trump win in 2024. Since Trump’s victory, Musk has spent significant time with him. Trump calls Musk “fantastic” and praises DOGE as “super geniuses.”
Wiles is a powerful Washington insider. She kept Trump’s campaign disciplined. She avoids the spotlight and rarely raises her voice. She often stays close to Trump but moves away from cameras.
