President Trump directed members of his Cabinet Thursday to take the lead in firing thousands of federal workers, rather than waiting for directives from billionaire adviser Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE.

President Donald Trump: “We want them to keep the good people, and so we’re going to be watching them. And Elon and the group are going to be watching them. And if they can cut, it’s better. And if they don’t cut, then Elon will do the cutting.”