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President Donald Trump is scheduled to convene his first Cabinet meeting on Wednesday since returning to office last month.
This meeting aims to further his agenda, now that most of his nominees have been confirmed by Congress
However, Elon Musk, the billionaire supporter and advisor, will attend the meeting. As the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Musk has been tasked with overseeing efforts to fire thousands of federal workers, despite lacking a ministerial portfolio or formal decision-making authority.
Other contentious members of the Trump administration attending the meeting include:
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.: a noted vaccine skeptic
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard: has espoused conspiracy theories
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth: a former Fox News host facing allegations of sexual assault.
Also, the US Senate has approved all of Trump’s cabinet picks so far, despite Democratic outcry over their track records and lack of experience.
Trump’s Republican Party holds a narrow majority in the Senate, showcasing his influence over the party.
Notably, Former Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell was the sole Republican dissenter to Kennedy’s confirmation as health secretary.
Ongoing Confirmation Processes and Staff Upheavals
A few Trump cabinet appointees still await confirmation by the Senate, including:
Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer: a former congresswoman
Linda McMahon: who helmed the Small Business Administration for part of Trump’s first term
Meanwhile, Musk is dealing with upheaval within DOGE, as one-third of his staff resigned in protest on Tuesday.
This follows a mass email sent to federal government workers, ordering them to justify their work or risk being fired.
Government departments have largely advised staff to ignore or downplay the risks of not responding to the email.
