Washington, D.C. [USA]: Elon Musk’s aggressive push to reduce federal bureaucracy is beginning to spark opposition, potentially posing risks for President Donald Trump and the Republican Party, CNN reports.
Musk’s recent actions—including asking federal employees to justify their productivity—have led to confusion and criticism, even among some Republicans. Concerns are growing that the resulting turmoil could hinder Trump’s policy goals.
According to CNN, “Elon Musk’s chainsaw is not only slashing away at the bureaucracy but is generating the first warning signs that it could eventually cut deep into the political standing of President Donald Trump and his MAGA allies.”
Sources indicate that political risks for Republicans are increasing as the administration faces legal defeats, and mixed messages from Musk—who has taken on the role of a government cost-cutter—are causing further uncertainty.
CNN further notes that “Trump often prospers in the chaos that he foments, and the erratic swathe that Musk is slicing through the civil service is a direct response to the fury many voters expressed in last year’s election. And for some in Trump’s base who embrace the president’s anti-elite rhetoric, the act of subjecting federal workers to fear and pain may be a political end in itself. Among conservatives more generally, meanwhile, cutting government is perennially popular.”
However, resistance is emerging from some of Trump’s strongest “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) allies. Musk’s directive asking federal employees “what did you do last week?” has sparked concerns that a demoralized workforce and operational confusion could ultimately undermine Trump’s policy implementation.
Several Republican lawmakers are already experiencing backlash from their constituents over Musk’s actions. Some House Republicans are seeking guidance on how to address the issue, as the human toll of the layoffs—affecting federal workers and their families—gains attention. Some affected employees have even begun lobbying the Senate for intervention.
“Things are happening so fast and furiously,” Rep. Nicole Malliotakis told CNN’s Manu Raju on Tuesday. “We need to take a step back and make sure that we’re doing things in a way that we are rooting out the waste, the fraud and the abuse and the mismanagement, making programs efficient but not resulting in unintended consequences,” the New York Republican added.
The situation continues to escalate, with legal challenges mounting against the administration’s cost-cutting and staffing reductions.
Some political analysts warn that if public sentiment turns against Musk, it could evolve into broader opposition to Trump’s policies—potentially making Musk a political liability for the president, CNN reported.