US President Donald Trump is scheduled to convene his first Cabinet meeting since returning to office last month, aiming to advance his policy agenda as most of his Cabinet nominees have now been confirmed by Congress.
Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur and Trump’s key advisor, will be among those attending. Musk, who heads the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), is tasked with overseeing the firing of thousands of federal employees. Though Musk holds no formal ministerial role, he is classified as a “special government employee” and serves as a “senior advisor to the president,” as per White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Musk, who was a major donor to Trump’s 2024 campaign, isn’t the only controversial figure in attendance. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vocal vaccine skeptic, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who has promoted conspiracy theories, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News host facing sexual assault allegations, are also part of the meeting.
Despite criticism from Democrats regarding the lack of experience and controversial backgrounds of Trump’s cabinet picks, the Senate has confirmed all nominees to date. Trump’s Republican Party, holding a narrow Senate majority, has largely backed the president’s choices, demonstrating his tight control over the party.
The only Republican dissent came from former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who opposed Kennedy’s confirmation as Health Secretary. This appointment raised concerns within the medical community, given Kennedy’s history of vaccine misinformation and his pledge to suspend research on infectious diseases.
Some of Trump’s cabinet picks are still awaiting Senate confirmation, including Lori Chavez-DeRemer, nominated for Secretary of Labor, and Linda McMahon, a former head of the Small Business Administration.
Meanwhile, Musk’s leadership of DOGE has faced challenges, with one-third of the department’s staff resigning in protest following his mass email directive to the federal government’s two million workers. The email, which demanded workers justify their roles or face termination, prompted significant backlash. On Monday, many government departments advised staff to either ignore the email or downplay its threat.
Since Trump’s inauguration, thousands of federal employees, mainly those in probationary roles, have been dismissed.
By AFP.
