A recent New York Times report reveals a Trump administration official is raising concerns about Elon Musk’s unchecked influence under President Donald Trump. According to the report, Musk has been aggressively reshaping government agencies and halting Congressionally-approved spending to shrink the federal government. His actions, particularly with the creation of the DOGE department, which started as an advisory role but seems to have expanded into an operational one without appropriate oversight or security clearances, have caused widespread alarm, especially within Congress.
Musk’s unprecedented power and his close ties to both the U.S. government and foreign adversaries like China have taken many by surprise, even catching traditional media outlets off guard. With many of these outlets focusing on Trump-adjacent audiences amid declining business models, The New York Times stepped in to provide much-needed investigative reporting.
The article, co-authored by a team of seasoned journalists (Jonathan Swan, Theodore Schleifer, Maggie Haberman, Kate Conger, Ryan Mac, and Madeleine Ngo), explores Musk’s growing influence, highlighting the unusual and troubling behaviors surrounding his involvement in government programs. The report notes that Musk has enlisted a group of young people, aged 19 to 25, who have been brought in to disrupt the government with apparent autonomy and without adequate checks on their power. This situation has raised concerns from both Democrats and government watchdogs, as well as some Trump administration insiders.
One such official, speaking anonymously, expressed unease about Musk’s role, describing it as an extraordinary display of power by a private individual with significant financial stakes in government affairs. The official noted that Musk has been operating with minimal oversight, often bypassing standard processes and even entering the White House through a side entrance to participate in meetings. One Trump official went as far to say that Musk operates with a “level of autonomy that almost no one can control.” His close relationship with Trump’s top policy advisor, Stephen Miller, who shares Musk’s disdain for much of the federal workforce, has also fueled concerns.
Musk’s apparent autonomy has led to several lawsuits challenging his actions, yet Speaker Mike Johnson has shown support for the process, even as it undermines the constitutional checks and balances typically provided by the legislative branch. The New York Times report underscores the lack of accountability surrounding Musk’s influence, which remains largely unchallenged in the current political climate.
