Elon Musk's Role in Federal Workforce Cuts Sparks Legal and Political Turmoil

As head of the Department of Government Efficiency, Musk faces backlash over mass layoffs, lawsuits, and conflicting claims about his authority.

Elon Musk leads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), tasked with cutting federal workforce costs, but his authority has been challenged in court and by critics.
Musk announced plans to double DOGE's staff from 100 to 200, hiring primarily from the tech, finance, and legal sectors, even as DOGE recommends mass layoffs across federal agencies.
Thousands of federal employees have been terminated or offered resignation deals, with critics warning of risks to essential government services and insufficient oversight of DOGE's actions.
The Department of Justice claimed Musk has no formal authority over DOGE, but President Trump and GOP senators have contradicted this, with some senators reportedly contacting Musk directly to reverse decisions.
Legal challenges against DOGE are mounting, including a recent court ruling requiring the agency to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests for greater transparency.