White House Confirms Musk Not DOGE Employee Amid State Lawsuit

The White House clarified that Elon Musk is not an employee of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) but serves as a senior adviser to President Trump, with no formal decision-making authority. This statement was made in a court filing amidst a case alleging illegal executive overreach by Musk and the administration. Joshua Fisher, director of the Office of Administration, emphasized that Musk's role is comparable to other senior advisors and he can only advise the president. This clarification contradicts previous claims made by Trump, who had positioned Musk as a leader of DOGE responsible for cutting wasteful spending in federal agencies. The distinction comes as DOGE continues its efforts to find significant budget cuts across the government. Musk's involvement has stirred controversy, particularly regarding his perceived authority within the administration.