Musk Charges On With New Targets in Sight and Trump’s Blessing

Elon Musk isn’t just influencing government anymore—he’s actively dismantling it.

With Trump back in the White House, Musk has moved from the sidelines to the center stage, wielding power with zero accountability. His latest move? Shutting down the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)—the agency created to prevent the kind of Wall Street greed that led to the 2008 crash. Employees were abruptly told to work remotely after Trump’s budget chief, Russell Vought, took over and declared the agency’s mission obsolete.

Musk made his stance clear with a simple post on X: “CFPB RIP.”

This is just the latest target in a long list of federal institutions Musk is gutting. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)—once a cornerstone of America’s global influence—has been largely dismantled. Trump himself called the agency “crazy” and “a big scam” on Sunday.

Musk’s Unelected Power Has No Precedent

Musk isn’t an elected official. He doesn’t answer to the public. Yet he’s firing government employees, stripping away regulatory oversight, and accessing sensitive data on millions of Americans. The courts have temporarily slowed down some of his and Trump’s more extreme measures, but the trajectory is clear—this is shaping up to be one of the biggest battles over executive power in modern history.

People expected Musk and Trump to eventually clash—two massive egos destined for conflict. But so far, Trump is giving Musk free rein. Even after Time Magazine depicted Musk behind the Oval Office desk, Trump brushed it off, saying in a Fox Super Bowl interview, “I’ve had great help with Elon Musk, who’s been terrific.”

Translation: Musk is executing Trump’s purge of the federal government, and Trump loves it.

Musk and Trump: A Perfect Storm

Both men despise rules, regulations, and oversight. They see institutions as obstacles, not safeguards. And now, with Musk backing far-right movements in Europe and Trump steamrolling checks and balances at home, they’re rewriting the playbook for political power.

Midterms are coming in 2026, and the GOP knows Musk is a major asset. He spent hundreds of millions helping Trump and his allies get elected in 2024, and Republicans won’t risk losing his backing. Washington is in chaos, but Trump’s base is energized.

The Polls Show Trump’s Strategy Is Working—For Now

Despite the destruction, Trump’s approval rating sits at 53%, according to a new CBS poll—higher than during most of his first term. His base loves the relentless action: immigration crackdowns, bans on transgender athletes, and mass layoffs in Washington.

But there are warning signs. Two-thirds of Americans say Trump isn’t doing enough to lower prices, and only 28% believe his policies will help. His upcoming 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum could reignite inflation, hurting the very voters he claims to protect.

And while dismantling government agencies is a crowd-pleaser at rallies, Trump risks real backlash if Americans start feeling the consequences—like slower disaster relief, lost benefits, or financial instability.

Musk’s Grip on the Government Is Tightening

Trump isn’t the only one backing Musk—his entire Cabinet is falling in line. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defended Musk’s influence over FEMA, suggesting the federal disaster agency should be dismantled entirely. “I would say, yes, get rid of FEMA the way it exists today,” she told CNN.

She even admitted Musk has access to sensitive government data, including disaster victim records. When pressed on whether she was comfortable with that, she didn’t flinch: “Absolutely.”

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed the same sentiment on Fox, welcoming Musk’s team into the Pentagon to help “streamline” military operations. Meanwhile, House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan dismissed concerns, saying, “No one wants to defend waste, fraud, and abuse—so they attack the guy exposing it.”

The Supreme Court Showdown Is Coming

For now, Musk and Trump are in control. But even the most powerful presidency doesn’t have the legal authority to ignore Congress, seize agency budgets, or override existing laws.

With lawsuits piling up and legal challenges mounting, this fight will inevitably land at the Supreme Court—where Trump’s conservative majority leans heavily toward expanding executive power. If they rule in his favor, Musk’s grip on Washington will tighten even further.

The wrecking ball has already started swinging. The only question left: What’s next on Musk’s hit list?

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