Donald Trump wants Elon Musk to be 'more aggressive' in bid to shrink US government

US President Donald Trump said Saturday he would like his billionaire advisor Elon Musk to get "more aggressive" in implementing his reform agenda

US President Donald Trump on Saturday urged billionaire Elon Musk to be more aggressive in his efforts to shrink the federal government despite uproar over layoffs and deep spending cuts.

"Elon is doing a great job, but I would like to see him get more aggressive,” Trump posted all in uppercase letters on his Truth Social platform. ”Remember, we have a country to save, but ultimately, to make greater than ever before. MAGA!”

Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE – an entity created by Donald Trump – has swept across federal government agencies, firing tens of thousands of federal government workers from scientists to park rangers, mostly those on probation.

ELON IS DOING A GREAT JOB, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HIM GET MORE AGGRESSIVE. REMEMBER, WE HAVE A COUNTRY TO SAVE, BUT ULTIMATELY, TO MAKE GREATER THAN EVER BEFORE. MAGA!Donald Trump Truth Social Post 08:04 AM EST 02/21/25

Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) February 22, 2025

Meanwhile, in the latest cuts announced Friday, the US Defense Department will cut its civilian workforce by at least five percent starting next week. Trump's administration has already begun firing many other federal workers who are on probationary status.

A judge on Thursday denied a union bid to temporarily halt the firing of thousands of people.

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is a free-ranging entity run by Musk, though the cost-cutting spree has been met with pushback on several fronts and a mixed bag of court rulings.