Amid growing concerns over Elon Musk’s influence in Donald Trump’s new administration, particularly in relation to his role within the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and the widespread layoffs that have taken place, the White House has clarified that Musk is not employed by the department and does not hold decision-making authority. A court filing, signed by Joshua Fisher, the director of the White House’s Office of Administration, confirmed that Musk is a senior advisor to the President and serves as a White House employee. However, his role is limited to offering advice and conveying the President’s instructions.

Fisher emphasized that, like other senior advisors, Musk does not have the authority to make decisions on government matters, stating that Musk is not the Administrator of the US DOGE Service. Since Trump’s second term began last month, DOGE has aggressively pursued cost-cutting measures across federal agencies. Musk was tasked with identifying and eliminating what the administration considers "wasteful spending," leading to significant job cuts.

Trump’s decision to place Musk at the forefront of this initiative was part of a broader effort to reduce the size of the federal workforce and phase out certain government programs. Through an executive order, Trump instructed agency leaders to prepare for large-scale reductions, resulting in job losses across several departments.

Musk’s role has been questioned legally, with approximately 20 lawsuits filed in federal courts challenging his authority. These cases have produced mixed results, and a federal judge has raised concerns about the legitimacy of Musk’s involvement in government operations. In the lawsuit filed by the State of New Mexico, Fisher reiterated that Musk is not employed by the US DOGE Service or its Temporary Organization. The administration maintains that while Musk advises Trump on policy issues, he does not have the formal authority to make independent government decisions.

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