When two of US President Donald Trump’s top lieutenants issued a call to remove government spending from the nation’s most-watched gauge of economic growth, they waded into an old and fierce debate that goes far beyond statistics.

In an exclusive interview with Meet the Press, Commerce Sec. Howard Lutnick says that President Trump made clear to his Cabinet that Elon Musk is “a partner” in deciding who and what will be cut from their departments.

Despite reports of ill-tempered exchanges between Elon Musk and cabinet members in a Thursday meeting, Lutnick said that the secretaries still “want his help.”

Howard Lutnick's remarks came in response to concerns over whether the spending cuts advocated by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) might lead to a recession.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) on Monday questioned Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick over the access tech billionaire Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has to his competitors and business partners.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Sunday that government spending could be separated from gross domestic product reports in response to questions about whether the spending cuts pushed by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency could possibly cause an economic downturn.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick plans to make an internet infrastructure investment program “technology-neutral,” according to The Wall Street Journal, meaning Elon Musk’s Starlink could more easily benefit.

Howard Lutnick said Sunday that government spending could be separated from gross domestic product reports in response to questions about whether the spending cuts pushed by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency could possibly cause an economic downturn.

Elon Musk’s Starlink could receive up to $20 billion in government funding if the Commerce Department goes ahead with plans to rip up the rule book on rural broadband contracts, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Despite reports of ill-tempered exchanges between Elon Musk and cabinet members in a Thursday meeting, Lutnick said that the secretaries still “want his help.”

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick put a halt to NBC News host Kristen Welker’s repeated questions about who is “in charge” of the president’s cabinet on Sunday, as she appeared to be trying to drive a wedge between the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) Elon Musk and the rest of Trump’s administration.

When two of US President Donald Trump’s top lieutenants issued a call to remove government spending from the nation’s most-watched gauge of economic growth, they waded into an old and fierce debate that goes far beyond statistics.