Rick Scott says Elon Musk 'does not have the power to fire people'

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Politico

03/09/2025 11:55 AM EDT

Republican Florida Sen. Rick Scott on Sunday reiterated President Donald Trump’s recent messaging about Elon Musk’s realm of control, insisting the Department of Government Efficiency initiative head does not have the authority to fire government employees. “Elon Musk does not have the power to fire people,” Scott said on CNN’s “State of the Union” to anchor Jake Tapper on Sunday. “The president of the United States is Donald Trump, and the agency heads are the ones who manage each of their departments.”

Scott’s comments follow a contentious Cabinet meeting where administration officials expressed frustration with Musk’s attempts to override staffing and policy decisions within their agencies. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Musk reportedly sparred over DOGE employees trying to lay off traffic controllers. Duffy later called the meeting “productive” in a post to X on Friday, but hinted toward his larger disapproval of Musk’s mission to bulldoze the federal bureaucracy.

“The President’s approach of a scalpel versus a hatchet and better coordination between Secretaries and DOGE is the right approach to revolutionizing the way our government is run,” Duffy added.

Trump told his Cabinet officials during the meeting that Musk is not permitted to issue any decisions on staffing and policy — the president’s first significant move to rein in Musk’s authority. Trump said that DOGE is supposed to play an advisory role to agencies and that Cabinet officials make final decisions on staffing and policies and their implementation.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/09/rick-scott-elon-musk-doge-00220010

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Proclaiming you locked the gate after the horse got out is ridiculous. It's too late. Those who demanded control over their own staffing were either fired themselves or forced to resign or retire. The whole thing was and continues to be against the law.

[live love laugh]

1. They just have the "power" to steal our data and dollars then I guess.

[creon]

2. yea right

Musk is doing it, S cott.
What are you going to do about, poltroon?

[BumRushDaShow]

3. "What are you going to do about, poltroon?"

I had to go look up that "SAT word of the day". Thank you!

[Groundhawg]

4. Of course he is right, but but then again, Elon hasn't fired a single federal employee.

[Srkdqltr]

5. I think he's a little late.

[CountAllVotes]

6. Elon Musk

What the hell is this guy doing in America acting as if he is some sort on an elected official?

He needs to go.

NOW!

[oasis]

7. Scott is envious of Musk's ability to go-go dance

in the Oval Office. “Why not me?”

[cstanleytech]

8. Tell that to President Musk then.

[lonely bird]

9. So, the criminal thinks Musk doesn't have the power to fire people

Big fucking deal. What are you going to do about it? You have been sucking Trump just like the rest of your party.

Gutless turd.

[rsdsharp]

10. He may not have the legal authority, "Senator," but recent history confirms he sure as hell has the power.

[AmericaUnderSiege]

11. Thanks so much Rick!

Thanks for chiming in. We really needed your towering moral authority on this. Hoo-ah