ABC WORLD NEWS TONIGHT
3/6/25
6:41 PM
DAVID MUIR: Now to those major cuts, federal workers losing their jobs, at The White House today, a remarkable moment. President Trump called a meeting of his Cabinet secretaries, Elon Musk was there, and he told his Cabinet they choose who actually goes, not Elon Musk. Here's Mary Bruce.
MARY BRUCE: Tonight, after weeks of tense town meetings --
MEMBER OF CONGRESS: What DOGE is really trying to do -- [ booing ]
BRUCE: Public backlash to Elon Musk's chainsaw approach to mass firings, President Trump tonight telling his Cabinet secretaries they're in charge of who gets cut from their agencies, not Musk. Just two days ago, Trump showering Musk with praise.
TRUMP: And to that end, I have created the brand new Department of Government Efficiency. DOGE. Perhaps you've heard of it. Perhaps. [ Applause and boos] Which is headed by Elon Musk, who is in the gallery tonight.
BRUCE: But tonight, a tacit admission that Musk's approach has gone too far. Trump saying Cabinet secretaries need to decide who stays and who goes, using the scalpel, rather than the hatchet. He told them as much today in a closed door Cabinet meeting with Musk there in the room.
TRUMP: So, I had a meeting, and I said, I want the Cabinet members go first, keep all the people you want, everybody that you need. When we have good people, those -- that's precious, it's very important, and we want them to keep the good people.
BRUCE: Musk is polarizing. 49% of Americans disapprove of the job he's doing, while 34% approve. He's ordered government workers to send emails listing their weekly accomplishments, and his team is the driving force behind mass layoffs. The president now saying he wants a more targeted approach.
TRUMP: Elon has been really teaching everybody about the numbers that you can do, but what I want is- I want the numbers, but I also want to keep the good people.
BRUCE: It comes as Elon Musk's approach is certainly rubbing some people the wrong way, and now some Republican members on The Hill are saying publicly that he is complicating their lives and warning that he may be making mistakes, and hurting innocent Americans in the process. David.
MUIR: Mary Bruce at The White House tonight. Mary, thank you.
. Ben Graham
