During his first cabinet meeting on Wednesday, President Donald Trump welcomed Elon Musk to share his thoughts on strategies to reduce the size of the federal workforce and lower government spending. Wearing a black “Make America Great Again” cap and a T-shirt that read “TECH SUPPORT,” a spirited Musk outlined plans to cut $1 trillion from federal budgets and further downsize government staff. He acknowledged that his teams sometimes went too far, recounting an instance in which funding for Ebola outbreak prevention was “accidentally” halted. “We might not always get it right, but we will fix our mistakes promptly,” he promised.
However, these errors are turning out to be both costly and embarrassing, as the budget reductions are affecting vital government functions like nuclear security, pandemic response, and veteran services, leading officials to reverse some decisions. In the first six weeks of Trump’s presidency, his administration has already backtracked on over a dozen important policies.
Despite these numerous reversals, they do not detract from the significant steps Trump’s administration is taking to reshape the federal government. Many of the changes being enacted are intended to be permanent. Thousands of federal employees have been laid off in agencies like the Internal Revenue Service and the Defense, Energy, and Veterans Affairs Departments, while tens of thousands more have left their positions under Musk’s influence. USAID, which oversees billions in international food and medical aid, has also seen significant cuts. Furthermore, Musk’s claim that funding for Ebola prevention has been fully restored is now facing scrutiny from both current and former officials at USAID.
The many reversals underscore an administration operating at a rapid pace. During his previous term, Trump’s early actions were often chaotic and faced legal challenges, including the controversial visa ban for several Muslim-majority countries and plans for a border wall. This time around, Trump’s team seems more prepared to advance their agenda despite setbacks, according to Timothy Naftali, a presidential historian at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. Many individuals who served during Trump’s first term have returned, eager to pursue bold initiatives that had been previously stalled. “Unlike the first term, where these mistakes led to inaction, now it’s more about making quick corrections,” Naftali observes. “While some strategies may have changed, the underlying policies remain consistent.”
There’s little expectation that the administration will ease its pace. Trump has dismissed senior career officials in key agencies and taken other actions to remove limitations on his power, potentially setting the stage for even more drastic changes in the months ahead.
While Trump’s officials argue that their actions demonstrate a commitment to efficiency and responsiveness, critics contend that the frequency of these reversals erodes public trust in the administration’s leadership.
Democrats have capitalized on this confusion, suggesting it reflects dysfunction within the Republican Party and could lead to a strong challenge in the upcoming midterm elections. “A party known for chaos will ultimately be the one that falters,” warns Senator John Fetterman, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, in a discussion with TIME.
Let’s explore some of the notable ways the Trump Administration has reversed its decisions thus far.
Canceled order freezing federal grants
Just a week into Trump’s second term, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a memo to freeze all federal loans and grants. However, two days later, this order was rescinded. The initial memo alarmed states, schools, and community organizations that depend on federal funding, leading to widespread confusion and legal challenges regarding its effects on essential services like food assistance and healthcare programs. A federal judge temporarily blocked part of the aid freeze, though the administration has appealed this ruling to the Supreme Court.
Initially, the freeze was defended as a necessary review to ensure federal spending aligned with Trump’s executive orders, which included the elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. However, after a swift backlash, the administration reversed its position. Nevertheless, many programs have reportedly not resumed funding, affecting critical areas such as medical research, infrastructure projects, and food assistance.
Reversed decision to terminate free COVID testing program
In mid-February, the Trump Administration reversed its plan to end the government’s free COVID-19 testing distribution program just moments before its website, COVIDtests.gov, was set to close. This program, which provides free tests directly to U.S. households, was considered essential during the height of the pandemic. As the spread of the virus began to slow, officials at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) evaluated the costs of destroying over 160 million unused tests.
Public health experts and lawmakers raised concerns, warning that eliminating these resources could be disastrous if the virus were to resurge. Ultimately, HHS officials decided that the unused tests would “remain in inventory until they meet their expiration date,” as reported by The Washington Post. Free COVID tests continue to be available upon request at COVIDtests.gov.
Reinstated multiple laid-off federal employees
In mid-February, the Trump Administration laid off thousands of federal workers, particularly those on probation. New hires or employees transitioning between agencies typically hold probationary status.
Many of those terminated were involved in crucial roles, such as monitoring nuclear safety, supporting pandemic response, supervising the food supply, and operating veteran crisis hotlines. Following substantial public outcry, officials moved to rehire dozens of employees from the National Nuclear Security Administration who had been let go. Some experts on bird flu from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and food safety regulators from the Food and Drug Administration were also reinstated.
Moreover, when the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) laid off over 1,000 probationary workers, it included individuals who operated the Veterans Crisis Line, a vital resource for veterans in distress. A week later, the VA reinstated at least two of these individuals, as reported by Senator Tammy Duckworth, a military veteran and Illinois Democrat who advocated for their return.
A union representing federal employees, the American Federation of Government Employees, filed a lawsuit on February 19, alleging that the Trump Administration unjustly terminated workers. The head of the Office of Special Counsel—a federal watchdog that Trump has attempted to dismiss—has lodged complaints with the Merit Systems Protection Board, asserting that the firings were baseless and violated the law under 5 U.S.C. § 2302(b)(12), which governs employee terminations and layoffs. According to the Office of Special Counsel, probationary employees can only be dismissed if their performance or conduct is deemed inadequate for federal employment.
Accidental cancellation of Ebola prevention program at USAID
During Trump’s initial cabinet meeting, Musk acknowledged that DOGE “accidentally canceled” USAID’s Ebola prevention efforts while an outbreak was occurring in Uganda—a decision he claims was swiftly reversed. “We all agree on the importance of Ebola prevention,” he stated. “There was no disruption.”
However, few details were provided regarding the restoration of funding, and former USAID officials contend that Ebola prevention initiatives have stagnated since Musk and his DOGE associates attempted to dismantle the global assistance agency and halted outgoing payments. “I’ve led Ebola outbreak responses at @USAID. This is simply untrue from Elon,” stated Jeremy Konyndyk, former director of USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance during the Obama administration, on X. “They have laid off most of the experts, are crippling partner organizations financially, have withdrawn from WHO, and have silenced the CDC.”
The CDC has reported nine confirmed cases of the Sudan virus—one of six identified strains of Ebola—in Uganda, including one death, since an outbreak was declared there on January 30.
Rehired staff from 9/11 health program
After implementing funding and staff cuts at a healthcare program for individuals impacted by toxic debris from the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the Trump Administration reversed this decision. This change was prompted by criticism from families of first responders who were upset that research into the long-term effects of toxins would be discontinued. The backlash also came from congressional Republicans in New York, who urged Trump to overturn the cuts.
“This staff reduction will only hinder the program’s ability to oversee contracts and support its members, who are the brave individuals who responded to danger and assisted in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks,” they stated in their letter to Trump.
In response to the backlash, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which oversees the World Trade Center Health Program, announced it had reinstated two research grants and rehired laid-off employees. Approximately 20% of the program’s workforce had been terminated as part of the initial cuts. Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the minority leader, commented that the program “should never have been on the chopping block in the first place.”
Announced new tariffs and then postponed them
The Trump Administration has provided mixed and at times contradictory information regarding the timeline for imposing tariffs on trading partners. During his cabinet meeting, Trump suggested delaying 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico until April 2, just two days after stating they would take effect on March 4—and well beyond the original date of February 1. However, the following day, Trump retracted those comments and announced via social media that the tariffs would indeed begin on March 4. He also mentioned that China would face an additional 10% tariff on March 4, on top of the 10% imposed in February.
U.S. Postal Service reversed decision on packages from China
In early February, the U.S. Postal Service quickly decided to suspend and then resume acceptance of packages from China within 24 hours. This abrupt change caused disruptions throughout the intricate international parcel system and affected suppliers relying on timely deliveries between China and the U.S. Customers of Chinese discount retailers like Temu and Shein faced uncertainty regarding their online orders.
The temporary suspension began with a notice on the U.S. Postal Service website stating that it would “temporarily suspend” acceptance of international packages from China and Hong Kong starting February 4. Trump Administration officials raised concerns that small package deliveries could potentially serve as an avenue for Chinese businesses to evade Trump’s 10% tariff on imports.
However, the U.S. Postal Service reversed its decision within a day. A new advisory on usps.com stated that effective February 5, the U.S. would accept “all international inbound mail and packages” from China and Hong Kong. The message indicated that USPS and U.S. Customs and Border Protection were collaborating to find ways to collect Trump’s tariffs on goods from China to minimize disruptions in package delivery.
Trump’s remarks on Ukraine and subsequent reversal
On February 18, Trump remarked that Ukraine “should have never started” the war against Russia that began three years prior, drawing widespread condemnation from around the globe. A few days later, he clarified his comments, affirming that Russia was indeed the aggressor. “Russia attacked, but they shouldn’t have allowed him to do so,” Trump told Fox News Radio when asked for clarification. The conflict ignited on February 24, 2022, when Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered military action against Ukraine, launching attacks across the country, including the capital, Kyiv.
Trump, who promised during his campaign that he would resolve the conflict on his first day in office, claimed he is “trying to recover” funds previously allocated to Ukraine by the prior administration. However, his relationship with Ukraine has soured as he recently labeled President Volodymyr Zelensky “a dictator” and suggested that Zelensky’s popularity among voters is at an all-time low. When asked on February 27 if he still viewed Zelensky as a dictator, Trump replied, “Did I say that? I can’t believe I said that. Next question.”
Contradictions over Musk’s recent email directive
An email circulated by the Trump Administration to federal employees, titled “What did you do last week?” has caused some confusion. The message requested workers to respond with five examples of their recent activities, excluding classified information. In a post on X, Musk indicated that failure to respond would be interpreted as a resignation. However, several agencies advised employees to disregard this request, conflicting with Musk’s directive. During a White House briefing, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that agency heads had the discretion to interpret Musk’s ultimatum.
The next day, at the cabinet meeting with Musk, Trump contradicted Leavitt and other cabinet members, suggesting that federal employees who hadn’t responded to the email “are on the bubble, as they say; maybe they’re going to be gone.”
A federal employee from the Veterans Health Administration, who asked to remain anonymous, expressed that he and his colleagues have been under significant stress due to the administration’s “inconsistency.” He described Musk’s recent directive as another attempt by the administration “to intimidate the federal workforce and make their lives miserable in hopes they’ll quit.”
Additionally, Trump has contradicted his own White House regarding Musk’s role in the administration, asserting that Musk is in charge of DOGE. In a previous court filing, however, the White House stated that Musk serves as a senior adviser to the President and has no authority over DOGE nor is he employed by that program.
