Washington, DC [US], February 4: American tech billionaire Elon Musk is serving as a special government employee under former US President Donald Trump’s administration, according to a report by CNN citing a White House official. This designation means Musk is not a full-time federal employee but works for the government on a limited basis — for 130 days or less within a 365-day period, as defined by the US Department of Justice.
Musk, who has been a supporter of Trump since his presidential campaign, is reportedly not receiving any compensation for his role. He has been granted top-secret security clearance, as confirmed by an official familiar with the matter. According to the report, Musk has an office on the White House campus and has been appointed by Trump to lead the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
On Monday, Trump stated that Musk has access to the US Treasury Department’s critical payment system, which handles payments on behalf of the US government. However, the move has faced legal challenges, with federal unions filing lawsuits against the Treasury Department over Musk’s involvement. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was present during Trump’s remarks in the Oval Office, in which the former president emphasized that Musk’s actions would be subject to approval, saying, “Elon can’t do and won’t do anything without our approval.”
As a special government employee, Musk is covered by federal ethics laws, including a statute that prevents individuals from participating in matters that may affect their financial interests. These standards are enforced by the Justice Department. It remains unclear whether Musk’s position requires him to file a public financial disclosure report.