White House never fully recovered from 'chaotic' Musk period, says journalist

Elon Musk's time in the Trump administration created such significant disruption that the White House never fully recovered, according to New York Times journalist Maggie Haberman.

Speaking on MS NOW's "Morning Joe," Haberman asserted that Musk, who served as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and a senior advisor, acted as a "co-president" for roughly the first four months of his tenure. She described the "destabilization" caused as so profound that it left lasting impacts.

During his brief stint, Musk implemented sweeping changes to federal administrative processes, aiming to reduce bureaucracy and combat waste, fraud, and mismanagement. However, his influence grew rapidly, granting him access to sensitive information. His tenure was marked by swift decisions and changes.

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We had Elon Musk… essentially acting not as co-president but as co-president, for about the first four months.

Even after Musk's departure, partly attributed to policy disagreements with then-President Donald Trump, several of his initiatives remain under review by courts and Congress. Federal judges found Musk's attempts to cut over $100 million in grants unconstitutional. Additionally, Democratic lawmakers requested internal auditors examine DOGE's access to sensitive government data.

Federal employees described a period of intense upheaval, with Musk's restructuring efforts leading to a wave of resignations, firings, and staff reductions. Some employees who were removed later returned to their positions following court rulings. Agencies like the IRS had to bolster hiring processes due to significant staff losses.

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the destabilization that was caused was so great that the administration never fully recovered