U.S. President Donald Trump, is set to hold his first Cabinet meeting since returning to office last month, aiming to advance his policy agenda as most of his nominees have now been confirmed by Congress.
Among the attendees will be billionaire entrepreneur and Trump advisor Elon Musk, who has been tasked with overseeing the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
The department, under Musk’s leadership, has sought to streamline the federal workforce by pushing for the dismissal of thousands of federal employees.
Despite not holding a formal ministerial role or decision-making power, Musk is classified as a “special government employee” and “senior adviser to the president,” as confirmed by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Musk, who was the top donor to Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, has become a prominent figure in the administration.
However, Musk will not be the only controversial figure in attendance at the meeting.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., known for his outspoken anti-vaccine stance, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who has been criticized for promoting conspiracy theories, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News host with allegations of sexual assault, are also part of the Trump administration’s leadership.
Despite concerns from Democrats regarding the qualifications and backgrounds of Trump’s nominees, the U.S. Senate has approved all of his Cabinet picks to date.
Trump’s Republican Party holds a slim majority in the Senate, and the limited opposition from within the party demonstrates his strong influence, with many dissenters either silenced or leaving the party.
The nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Health Secretary sparked alarm in the medical community due to his history of spreading vaccine misinformation and his controversial proposal to suspend research on infectious diseases.
Former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was the only Republican senator to oppose Kennedy’s confirmation.
Several Trump cabinet appointees are still awaiting Senate confirmation, including Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer, a former congresswoman, and Linda McMahon, who previously led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s first term.
Meanwhile, Musk has already encountered challenges within DOGE.
A significant portion of his staff resigned on Tuesday in protest after Musk sent a mass email to the federal government’s two million workers, demanding they justify their work or face termination.
Most government departments have advised employees to disregard the DOGE email or downplay the consequences of non-compliance.
Since Trump’s return to office, thousands of probationary federal employees, including those who were recently hired or promoted, have already been dismissed as part of the administration’s push for workforce efficiency.
AFP
