Elon Musk's aggressive tactics to reshape the federal government have irritated and blindsided many senior officials in the Trump administration. This includes those tasked with running Cabinet departments being squeezed by his U.S. DOGE Service, according to interviews with more than 30 current and former officials and their advisers, many of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal matters.

Amid these bubbling tensions, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles personally asked Musk last week to better coordinate on DOGE’s sweeping actions. The broad goals of Musk’s team at DOGE, which stands for the Department of Government Efficiency, are shared by President Donald Trump and most of his senior advisers, who also want to shrink the government through unilateral cuts.

Disruption Across Cabinet Departments

Agency heads, handpicked by Trump, are finding themselves caught off-guard by DOGE’s actions, forced to reverse, mitigate, or answer for some of its most disruptive moves. For instance, while working to win Senate confirmation to be Health and Human Services secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had to reassure GOP senators he would reexamine DOGE-driven cuts to the National Institutes of Health.

Tensions at the Treasury

Almost as soon as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent took office, the DOGE team thrust his department into the spotlight. The controversy around DOGE’s access to sensitive Treasury payment systems has caused alarm and frustration among the Treasury civil staff and even Republicans who had served in the department.

Foreign Affairs and USAID

During Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s first official foreign trip, DOGE representatives proposed reducing USAID to a level experts said would be impossible to maintain. This led to chaos within the agency and a temporary compromise on staffing.

Education and Health Challenges

At the Education Department, the DOGE team commandeered offices and refused interaction, making uncoordinated decisions about grant cancellations. Similarly, at the Department of Health and Human Services, DOGE made unexpected cuts, prompting surprise and concern.

The White House's Stance

Despite growing tensions, Trump has expressed his support for Musk in public forums, emphasizing Musk’s role in executing Trump’s directives effectively. Discussions between Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and Musk have aimed at improving coordination, not reprimanding Musk.

Conclusion

While DOGE's approach has brought about uncertainty and disruption, Trump's administration views Musk's efforts as necessary for their agenda. The partnership between Trump and Musk continues to evolve, shaping the federal government’s new direction.