When Elon Musk previewed his government-slashing plan in late November, he said he intended to serve as an “outside” volunteer, not as a federal official or employee.
But two weeks into the Trump administration, the White House announced that the billionaire tech executive is operating as a “special government employee.”
That designation — typically used for outside experts who provide temporary help to the government — means Musk is subject to federal conflict-of-interest rules, but they’re more limited than those that apply to other government employees.
Until this week, Musk’s formal role within the government had been opaque. President Donald Trump announced prior to the election that Musk would lead his so-called Department of Government Efficiency, which Trump created with an executive order that renamed an existing White House technology office.
