Elon Musk’s brief but chaotic influence over federal agencies is starting to backfire, and the consequences are more serious than anyone expected.
The White House has quietly reversed several controversial policies that Musk implemented during his stint overseeing the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. Among the most significant reversals is the rehiring of hundreds of weather experts after dangerous cuts to the National Weather Service.
According to CNN, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has received approval to recruit over 450 meteorologists, hydrologists, and radar technicians. These roles are critical to national safety and will help restore the agency’s capacity following deep staff reductions ordered under Musk’s leadership.
The urgency became impossible to ignore after the Texas floods. With fewer employees, local NWS offices failed to provide timely warnings. The result was catastrophic. At least 120 people died, including 35 children, in what is now being called one of the worst forecasting failures in recent memory.
The Weather Service had been operating with staffing levels below 4,000, far short of what experts say is necessary for reliable disaster alerts. Over 550 contracts had been cut, leaving offices across the country unprepared for natural emergencies. Many of the new hires may be former employees brought back into service.
The response inside the agency has been mixed. While the announcement was met with some relief, many current employees are frustrated. They had been asked to take on extra shifts and more responsibilities after their coworkers were let go. Now, they are questioning why the layoffs happened in the first place.
“How much time and money is it going to cost to train a bunch of new people when we had already-trained people in place?” one NOAA official told CNN. The comment reflects a wider feeling of resentment among those who stayed behind and struggled to keep things running.
This isn’t the only Musk-era policy being rolled back. The Office of Personnel Management also released a memo ending one of Musk’s most criticized internal programs. Under his direction, federal employees were required to submit weekly reports documenting their accomplishments. Critics slammed the move as bureaucratic micromanagement disguised as accountability.
The email initiative had been extremely unpopular. Some employees reportedly began submitting joke entries or empty reports in protest. One unnamed worker told CNN, “This week, I accomplished not throwing my computer out the window.”
The dismantling of Musk’s programs follows a dramatic falling-out between him and Donald Trump. The two had been close political allies, with Musk being one of Trump’s most vocal financial backers. However, that changed after Trump introduced a tax plan that would undo some of DOGE’s more aggressive budget cuts.
Musk responded by denouncing the plan as wasteful and even threatened to fund Trump’s political opponents during the midterms. The threat didn’t go over well. Trump supporters ignored Musk, and Trump himself launched a series of personal attacks on social media.
Their public feud quickly escalated. Musk called Trump “a failed magician with a fake tan,” while Trump referred to Musk as “a confused alien who thinks he’s the government.”
Now, as agencies scramble to undo the damage, federal workers are left cleaning up after what many are calling the most destructive policy experiment in recent memory. For some, the damage might be repairable. For others, the cost is already too high.
“There was never a real plan,” another anonymous official said. “Just a bunch of slogans and cuts. Now people are dead, and we’re trying to rebuild from scratch.”
Federal agencies are rushing to reestablish basic services and emergency preparedness. With hurricane season approaching, the timing of these hires may prevent further tragedy. But many believe the agency still faces a long road back to stability.
Elon Musk’s vision for efficiency now looks more like a cautionary tale. What was once pitched as innovation has instead turned into a lesson in what happens when leadership forgets the value of experience, preparation, and people.
For Musk, the fallout continues to grow. And for those still working inside these agencies, the real work of recovery is only just beginning.
