Elon Musk Is An ‘Employee’ – A ‘Special One’ In The Trump Administration
WASHINGTON, DC (ANI) – Elon Musk is serving as a special government employee under U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration, CNN reported, citing a White House official. This designation means Musk is not a full-time federal employee nor a volunteer but is expected to work for 130 days or less within a year, as defined by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Musk is not receiving a salary for his role but has been granted top-secret security clearance, an official confirmed. He has an office on the White House campus and has been appointed as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
On February 3, Trump announced that Musk has been given access to the U.S. Treasury Department’s critical payment system, which handles government transactions. This decision has sparked legal challenges, with federal unions and other groups filing a lawsuit against the Treasury Department over Musk’s access.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was present in the Oval Office when Trump addressed Musk’s role. “Elon can’t do and won’t do anything without our approval. And we’ll give him the approval where appropriate. Where not appropriate, we won’t,” Trump said.
As a special government employee, Musk is subject to federal conflicts-of-interest laws, which prohibit government employees from engaging in matters that could impact their financial interests. These laws can be enforced through criminal or civil actions, but only the Justice Department has the authority to pursue them.
Musk is also subject to certain government ethics standards, though it remains unclear if his role will require him to file a public financial disclosure report. According to the Justice Department, special government employees may be required to submit financial disclosures within 30 days of assuming their position. If they are paid above the GS-15 level and expected to serve more than 60 days, the report is made public. If paid below that level, a confidential report may be required if their decisions could impact a non-federal entity.
