President Donald Trump responded Thursday to growing criticism over unprecedented cuts to the US government overseen by his billionaire advisor Elon Musk, saying they should be carefully targeted.

"We say the 'scalpel' rather than the 'hatchet,'" Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social.

The president's message represents the first move to rein in the power accorded to Musk, as his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) works toward gutting federal staffing and spending.

But later, directly asked by reporters whether DOGE and Musk are moving too fast, Trump said: "No, I think they've done an amazing job."

While Musk is not the formal administrator of DOGE, the SpaceX and Tesla CEO is nonetheless directing operations and even attended the first cabinet meeting of Trump's second term.

The body's cost-cutting campaign has faced increasing resistance on multiple fronts, however, including court rulings and........

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