President Donald Trump convened his first official Cabinet meeting since the start of his second term, bringing together agency leaders who have demonstrated varying degrees of loyalty to him both publicly and privately.
Notably, tech billionaire Elon Musk, who has spearheaded efforts to streamline the federal government workforce despite not being a Cabinet member, is expected to participate in today's meeting. The White House announced that Musk is attending in his capacity as an adviser, guiding Cabinet secretaries under the Department of Government Efficiency.
Although Musk holds the title of senior adviser, he does not require Senate confirmation like traditional Cabinet members. To date, 18 out of 22 Cabinet nominees have been confirmed by the Senate.
The purpose of Wednesday's meeting is to ensure alignment among federal agency heads and reaffirm their commitment to advancing Trump's agenda. A White House official described the gathering as an opportunity to ensure that all agencies are working cohesively towards common goals.
Under Trump's previous administration, Cabinet meetings deviated from their conventional format. The president would begin by highlighting his administration's achievements, followed by each Cabinet member expressing admiration for Trump in front of television cameras.
