Elon Musk is officially working for President Donald Trump as a "special government employee," a White House official confirmed Monday, solidifying his role in the administration while sidestepping some standard federal disclosure rules.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Musk has a government email address and office space in the White House complex.
While Musk does not receive a paycheck for his work, his status raises questions about how federal ethics and financial disclosure rules apply, given his billions of dollars in federal contracts through SpaceX.
Musk has been granted significant authority by Trump, particularly in efforts to reduce the size of the federal government. On Monday, his team, known as the Department of Government Efficiency, abruptly shut down the headquarters of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and gained access to sensitive payment systems at the U.S. Treasury Department.
Democrats and ethics watchdogs have raised concerns over Musk’s unchecked power, warning that his influence within the federal government lacks transparency and may violate the law. Special government employees are typically limited to 130 days of service, but it remains unclear how ethics agreements or disclosure requirements will apply in Musk’s case.
Donald Trump praises Elon Musk
Despite the controversy, US President Trump has publicly endorsed Musk’s role.“I think Elon is doing a good job. He's a big cost-cutter ... he's doing a great job... he’s a smart guy… he's very much into cutting the budget of our federal government,” the US President said. “Sometimes we won’t agree, but I think he’s doing a great job.”
Trump further told reporters that Musk "can't do and won't do" anything without "our approval". Elon Musk, on his part, thanked Trump. "Thank you, President @realDonaldTrump," Musk wrote in a post.