Lauren Feiner

The original plan, according to reports from The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post, was to discuss plans for a potential war with China, among other topics, raising questions about Musk’s ever-expanding role in the executive branch and potential conflicts with his business interests. President Donald Trump denied the reports, saying “China will not even be mentioned or discussed,” and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said it would cover “innovation, efficiencies & smarter production.”

The Trump administration acknowledged in recent court filings that it had terminated nearly 25,000 workers across several agencies during its Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)-fueled cuts. Those workers are now being reinstated under a judge’s instructions. But many of those workers are still on administrative leave, and officials warn that if an appeals court reverses the temporary restraining order, “employees could be subjected to multiple changes in their employment status in a matter of weeks.”