Thousands of employees have been let go 😳

Elon Musk reportedly tells Republicans in private meeting that he is not responsible for DOGE firings

The tech billionaire has been the face of the many job cuts sweeping the US news recently, but now, Elon Musk seems to be doing what he can to change public perception.

Reportedly, Musk has been working behind the scenes to convince Republican lawmakers that he isn’t the one responsible for the mass firings of federal workers, despite playing a very public role in advocating for government job cuts. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump appears to be attempting the same, telling his cabinet secretaries that hiring and firing decisions ultimately rest with them — not Musk.

Over the last two months, thousands of federal employees, including military veterans and personnel at the NOAA, have been let go, sparking outrage across the country. But even as Musk has repeatedly pushed for major cuts — going as far as to suggest that entire agencies should be scrapped — both he and Trump now seem to be shifting the narrative.

This comes after Musk took part in discussions about government downsizing, answered questions alongside the president, and even wielded a chainsaw at an event as a not-so-subtle symbol of his approach.

According to the Associated Press, Musk has been meeting with lawmakers facing backlash from constituents over the job losses, reassuring them that these decisions are made by federal agencies — not him. Representative Richard Hudson of North Carolina, who heads the House Republicans’ campaign efforts, backed this up after a private meeting with Musk in Washington, saying: “Elon doesn’t fire people.”

“He doesn’t have hiring and firing authority,” Hudson further insisted after their basement pizza meeting at the US Capitol. “The president’s empowered him to go uncover this information, that’s it.”