Elon Musk not an official employee of DOGE, has no decision-making power: White House clarifies

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, known for leading Tesla and SpaceX, is not an official employee of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and does not have the authority to make government decisions, according to a new White House court filing.

Musk, who was chosen by U.S. President Donald Trump to spearhead DOGE, is actually a senior adviser to the president and a White House employee—but not a formal part of the department. The revelation came as questions arose over Musk’s influence in the Trump administration, especially regarding government budget cuts and restructuring.

What Is DOGE and Musk’s Role?

DOGE, a department created by Trump during his second term, focuses on reducing government spending, which has already led to thousands of job cuts. Musk is widely seen as the face of this initiative, but his role is purely advisory. According to a court filing by Joshua Fisher, Director of the Office of Administration, Musk’s responsibilities are limited to advising the president and relaying his directives.

Despite Trump’s announcement in November that “the Great Elon Musk” would lead DOGE, the filing clarifies that Musk is not employed by the department. Instead, he serves as a "non-career Special Government Employee" within the White House, meaning he cannot independently make decisions for the government.

Legal Challenge and Public Perception

Musk’s role is currently being scrutinized in a lawsuit filed by 14 U.S. states, including New Mexico. Critics argue that Musk wields too much power in the administration. However, in a joint interview set to air on Fox News, Trump dismissed concerns, saying, “Nobody in history has gotten more bad publicity than me... but people are smart, they get it.”

Musk responded, agreeing: “Yeah, they do actually.”

With this clarification, it remains to be seen how Musk's advisory role will shape government efficiency initiatives under the Trump administration.