President Donald Trump addressed concerns regarding substantial reductions in the U.S. government associated with his advisor, Elon Musk, stressing the importance of a 'scalpel' approach instead of a 'hatchet' when it comes to making decisions about reducing the federal workforce.

Trump's comments, posted on his social media platform Truth Social on Thursday, reflect his intention to strike a balance between cost-saving measures and retaining effective staff.

Despite advocating for a targeted strategy, Trump acknowledged in a statement to reporters that he feels Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have done exceptionally well, saying, 'No, I think they've done an amazing job.' Although Musk does not officially hold the title of administrator of DOGE, he plays a significant role in its operations and was present at the first cabinet meeting of Trump’s second term.

The DOGE initiative has faced increasing opposition, including legal challenges and growing concerns from lawmakers about the swift implementation of layoffs and budget cuts.

Trump made it clear that his cabinet members would be responsible for overseeing their departments, not Musk, and stated that while Musk could suggest personnel reductions, the ultimate decisions would be made by the cabinet officials.

During this briefing, Trump conveyed to his cabinet that it is crucial to retain 'the best and most productive people,' indicating that meetings focused on DOGE’s approaches would be convened bi-weekly to provide effective oversight.

The administration's assertive cost-reduction plan has led to the termination or threat of termination for tens of thousands of federal employees.

Over two million federal workers have been instructed by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), in conjunction with Musk, to delineate their job responsibilities in a memo, suggesting that failure to do so could result in their dismissal.

Labor organizations, including the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), have vocally opposed these measures, promising to contest any unlawful terminations.

Public perception seems largely negative regarding these disruptions within the federal workforce, as reflected by several recent surveys.

Legal challenges against Musk’s initiatives have yielded mixed results, with some courts denying requests for immediate injunctions against his executive actions.

On Wednesday, Musk reportedly attempted to reassure Republican lawmakers about the direction of DOGE following heightened scrutiny.

However, it was noted that by the end of February, about a third of DOGE employees had resigned in protest against the manner in which the initiative was being managed, citing a failure to uphold commitments to serve the American populace responsibly.

Criticism of the cuts has also surfaced from Senate Republicans, with Senate Minority Whip John Thune publicly asserting that cabinet officials should maintain full authority over personnel decisions, underscoring a division within the party regarding the administration's fiscal discipline approach.