Elon Musk’s Role in the Trump Administration: White House Advisor, Not DOGE Employee
Late-Night Court Filing Clarifies Musk’s Status
In a pivotal court filing late on Monday night, the Trump administration asserted that Elon Musk is not an employee of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) but rather serves as a White House advisor, akin to former Biden advisor Anita Dunn. This clarification emerged in response to remarks made by D.C. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan during a hearing on a lawsuit filed by 14 state attorneys general against Musk and the Trump administration. The suit alleges illegal executive overreach.
Judge Chutkan’s Concerns and DOGE’s Response
Judge Chutkan raised concerns about the lack of clarity regarding Musk’s authority within DOGE and questioned the extent of harm imposed by the department. Following these remarks, Joshua Fisher, director of the Office of Administration, submitted a signed declaration clarifying Musk’s position as a non-career Special Government Employee (SGE) in the White House Office, where he serves as a Senior Advisor to the President.
Comparison to Former Biden Advisor Anita Dunn
Fisher likened Musk’s role to that of Anita Dunn, a former top advisor to President Biden known for her ties to former President Barack Obama. Dunn departed the Biden White House in 2024 to support Vice President Kamala Harris’s candidacy. Fisher emphasized that, like Dunn, Musk serves an advisory capacity without any government decision-making authority.
DOGE’s Separation from the White House and Musk’s Limited Authority
Fisher clarified that DOGE operates as an independent entity from the White House and that Musk is not employed by the U.S. DOGE Service or the U.S. DOGE Service Temporary Organization. He further emphasized that Musk’s authority is confined to advising the President and relaying his directives.
Lawsuit and Allegations of Executive Overreach
At stake in the lawsuit are DOGEs actions within seven federal agencies, including the Office of Personnel Management and the Departments of Education, Labor, Health and Human Services, Energy, Transportation, and Commerce. The state attorneys general allege that the Trump administration has unlawfully delegated executive power to Musk.
New Mexico Attorney General’s Statement
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez denounced the alleged delegation of power to Musk as a sign of President Trump’s weakness. He expressed concern about the potential compromise of Americans’ personal data, cuts to federal student aid, cessation of payments to farmers, and dismantling of protections for working families.
Contributors to the Report
This report was compiled with contributions from Fox News journalists Jacqui Heinrich, Anders Hagstrom, Bill Mears, and Jake Gibson.
