WASHINGTON, Feb 17 (Reuters) – As speculation swirls around billionaire Elon Musk’s role in Donald Trump’s second-term administration, the White House has officially clarified that Musk is not an employee of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and holds no decision-making authority.
According to a court filing signed by Joshua Fisher, director of the Office of Administration at the White House, Musk serves as a White House employee and a senior adviser to President Trump.
However, like other advisers, his role is limited to offering guidance and relaying the president’s directives.
“Mr. Musk has no actual or formal authority to make government decisions himself,” the court filing stated.
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was established as part of Trump’s second-term agenda to streamline federal operations and cut wasteful spending.
Thousands of federal employees have been dismissed as part of this initiative, with Musk at the forefront of identifying inefficiencies.
However, despite his prominent position in these efforts, the White House confirmed that Musk is not the DOGE Administrator, nor is he employed by the department or its temporary organization.
As Musk’s involvement in government efficiency efforts intensifies, questions over his authority have led to legal challenges.
The State of New Mexico recently filed a lawsuit questioning Musk’s role, and around 20 other lawsuits have emerged across federal courts.
These legal battles have resulted in mixed rulings, with a federal judge temporarily blocking DOGE’s access to U.S.
Treasury payment systems while allowing investigations into health, labor, and consumer protection agencies to proceed.
President Trump has taken aggressive steps to reshape the federal workforce. Through executive orders, he has instructed agency leaders to plan for “large-scale reductions.”
This move has triggered further scrutiny of Musk’s position and the broader implications of DOGE’s initiatives.
While Musk remains a key figure in Trump’s administration, his role is advisory rather than authoritative.
As legal battles continue and DOGE pushes forward with its reforms, the extent of Musk’s influence will likely remain a topic of debate in the months to come.