Musk Supports the Notion that Trump 'Should be Able to Fire' Any Official
Elon Musk advocates for the idea that the US president should have the authority to implement any personnel changes within the executive branch as he sees fit. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
The idea was expressed by Utah Senator Mike Lee following reports that the US president-elect plans to implement several unconventional personnel changes.
Elon Musk stated on X Thursday that US President-elect Donald Trump should have the authority to make necessary personnel changes in the government's executive branch. Musk's comments were a reaction to Senator Mike Lee's earlier assertion that “the president of the United States should be able to fire any person employed in the Executive Branch… at any time for any reason,” excluding the vice president. Musk agreed, responding with “Absolutely.”
The executive branch includes the president, the cabinet, various executive departments, independent agencies, and other boards. Lee's remarks aimed at the personnel shifts Trump plans to execute upon his return to the White House, which some consider unconventional. Following his victory in the November election, Trump began announcing nominees for key positions within his administration. However, according to the Washington Times, at least two of these positions are not set to be vacated for several years. These include the FBI director, currently held by Christopher Wray, and IRS commissioner, occupied by Danny Werfel.
According to the New York Times, officials in these and other similar roles typically have fixed terms and generally do not change during a president's transition. Dismissing and replacing agency heads is viewed as a breach of tradition, although experts assert that the president possesses the legal authority to do so.
“Historically, there was more of a political constraint on removing someone before their term was over unless there was some bad behavior. The political handbrake is eroding, and it may be no longer functioning,” noted David Lewis, a political scientist at Vanderbilt University who examines presidential nominations.
Throughout his campaign, Trump pledged to completely overhaul the US government. He proposed that Musk and fellow billionaire Vivek Ramaswamy lead the new Department of Government Efficiency, aimed at minimizing government waste and streamlining federal bureaucracy. Recently, Ramaswamy presented a plan to reduce the federal workforce by 75%.
Trump's choice for the next FBI director is his former adviser Kash Patel, a staunch supporter who has criticized the agency as a “government gangster.” In his recent book, he has accused it of being involved in “deep state corruption” within the US. Trump has suggested Billy Long, a former Republican congressman from Missouri, as the next head of the IRS. Long has previously co-sponsored bills advocating for the abolishment of the federal tax authority and a shift from the federal income tax system to a national sales tax.
Max Fischer contributed to this report for TROIB News
Elon Musk stated on X Thursday that US President-elect Donald Trump should have the authority to make necessary personnel changes in the government's executive branch. Musk's comments were a reaction to Senator Mike Lee's earlier assertion that “the president of the United States should be able to fire any person employed in the Executive Branch… at any time for any reason,” excluding the vice president. Musk agreed, responding with “Absolutely.”
The executive branch includes the president, the cabinet, various executive departments, independent agencies, and other boards. Lee's remarks aimed at the personnel shifts Trump plans to execute upon his return to the White House, which some consider unconventional. Following his victory in the November election, Trump began announcing nominees for key positions within his administration. However, according to the Washington Times, at least two of these positions are not set to be vacated for several years. These include the FBI director, currently held by Christopher Wray, and IRS commissioner, occupied by Danny Werfel.
According to the New York Times, officials in these and other similar roles typically have fixed terms and generally do not change during a president's transition. Dismissing and replacing agency heads is viewed as a breach of tradition, although experts assert that the president possesses the legal authority to do so.
“Historically, there was more of a political constraint on removing someone before their term was over unless there was some bad behavior. The political handbrake is eroding, and it may be no longer functioning,” noted David Lewis, a political scientist at Vanderbilt University who examines presidential nominations.
Throughout his campaign, Trump pledged to completely overhaul the US government. He proposed that Musk and fellow billionaire Vivek Ramaswamy lead the new Department of Government Efficiency, aimed at minimizing government waste and streamlining federal bureaucracy. Recently, Ramaswamy presented a plan to reduce the federal workforce by 75%.
Trump's choice for the next FBI director is his former adviser Kash Patel, a staunch supporter who has criticized the agency as a “government gangster.” In his recent book, he has accused it of being involved in “deep state corruption” within the US. Trump has suggested Billy Long, a former Republican congressman from Missouri, as the next head of the IRS. Long has previously co-sponsored bills advocating for the abolishment of the federal tax authority and a shift from the federal income tax system to a national sales tax.
Max Fischer contributed to this report for TROIB News
