Elon Musk has 'no formal authority to make government decisions,' says White House
WORLD | TRENDING | As per the filing by the director of the Office Administration, Joshua Fisher, Musk is "an employee of the White House... as a non-career Special Government Employee" and a "Senior Advisor to the President."
After several reports of "too much" power given to DOGE chief Elon Musk and something called "President Musk" claims on the internet, the White House said in a court filing that the Tesla CEO has "no formal authority to make government decisions" on Monday (Feb 17).
Also read: Acting commissioner of US Social Security Administration resigns after Musk’s DOGE seeks data access
As per the filing by the director of the Office Administration, Joshua Fisher, Musk is "an employee of the White House... as a non-career Special Government Employee" and a "Senior Advisor to the President."
"Like other senior White House advisors, Mr Musk has no actual or formal authority to make government decisions himself. Mr Musk can only advise the President and communicate the President's directives," the filing further said.
Also read: Elon Musk thinks vampires are real as he shares doubtful data from US Social Security database
Fisher further added that "the US DOGE Service is a component of the Executive Office of the President. The US DOGE Service Temporary Organization is within the US DOGE Service. Both are separate from the White House Office".
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"Mr. Musk is an employee of the White House Office. He is not an employee of the US DOGE Service or US DOGE Service Temporary Organization. Mr. Musk is not the Temporary Administrator," he added.
Also read: ‘Want him to leave Earth’: Salman Rushdie criticises Elon Musk’s views on freedom of speech
The filing was made in a case that was brought against Musk by 14 states of the US, including New Mexico.
Meanwhile, in a joined interview of Musk and US President Donald Trump, scheduled to be broadcast late Tuesday (Feb 18), Trump took a dig at those claiming the X owner was the one running the White House.
Also read: Elon Musk-led DOGE cancels $21 million intended for 'voter turnout in India', BJP responds
A short teaser of the interview showed Trump saying, "I think nobody in history has ever gotten more bad publicity than me... But you know what I have learned Elon? That people are smart, they get it."
Also read: Elon Musk responds after influencer Ashley St Clair claims to be mother of his 13th Child
Musk replied, "Yeah they do actually."
(With inputs from agencies)
