Elon Musk's push to reduce the federal workforce is running into headwinds as Senate-confirmed Cabinet and agency officials block his immediate efforts to carry out the Department of Government Efficiency's (DOGE) plans.

Musk’s weekend directive for government employees to respond with bullet points describing what they accomplished in the past week under the threat of termination was not thwarted by courts or independent watch dogs.

Instead, it was newly minted department and agency chiefs who slowed the effort, earning the support of some GOP lawmakers.

“I think that's why we worked so hard to get these folks confirmed,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) told reporters Tuesday. “They’re now in a position to make those decisions, and I think some of those already asserted that right to make those decisions.”

“These are very capable people that are going to be responsible for running big departments and agencies and overseeing thousands of employees,” Thune continued, saying the administration is giving them “latitude” for now.

“They ought to do everything they can to make their departments work more efficiently and to find savings. And in many cases, they are going to make those decisions on their own.”

The GOP leader added to The Hill that the directive was getting “mixed reviews” from a number of the agency heads who had been confirmed.

Republicans on Capitol Hill have broadly welcomed........

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