EPA issues guidance that spending of $50,000 or more must gain approval of Doge

Move comes even as Trump has tried to show that Musk's cost-slashing agency doesn't have the final say

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued new guidance directing that spending items greater than $50,000 now require approval from Elon Musk's so-called department of government efficiency" (Doge), even as Donald Trump began putting some distance between Musk's reach and the power of government department heads - at least over job cuts.

Any assistance agreement, contract or interagency agreement transaction [valued at] $50,000 or greater must receive approval from an EPA DOGE team member," the EPA guidance says, according to documents obtained by the Associated Press. The EPA did not respond to a request from the news agency on Friday for comment.