What is Elon Musk's role as a "special government employee"?

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said that Tesla CEO Musk is categorized as a special government employee.

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Elon Musk’s Blitz Shakes U.S. Government as He Sweeps Through Agencies

The billionaire is creating major upheaval as his team sweeps through agencies, in what has been an extraordinary flexing of power by a private individual.
The New York Times - 37m
President Trump praises Elon Musk's work dismantling government agencies

NBC News White House Correspondents Gabe Gutierrez and Vaughn Hillyard, NPR Technology Reporter Bobby Allyn and Washington Post Education Reporter Laura Meckler discuss President Trump and Elon ...
NBC News - 3h
Elon Musk’s X Becomes Weapon in Government Cost Cutting

The billionaire has used the social media site to boast of victories, lash out at enemies and conduct polls for the initiative he calls the Department of Government Efficiency.
The New York Times - 4h
Musk Is Now a ‘Special Government Employee.’ Why Your Company Should Avoid This Status

Giving a controversial hire a special title outside of your normal org chart may smack of favoritism to some workers. It’s an example your company shouldn’t follow.
Inc. - 4h
Elon Musk and DOGE are hacking the government

Musk has moved with lightning speed to try to remake the federal government. Many Democrats and even some Republicans say his efforts are unlawful.
NBC News - 14h
Elon Musk Ally Tells Staff 'AI-First’ Is the Future of Key Government Agency

Sources say the former Tesla engineer now in charge of the Technology Transformation Services wants an agency that operates like a “startup software company.”
Wired - 1d
The Young, Inexperienced Engineers Aiding Elon Musk’s Government Takeover

Engineers between 19 and 24, most linked to Musk’s companies, are playing a key role as he seizes control of federal infrastructure.
Wired - 2d
Elon Musk and DOGE are hacking the government

Musk has moved with lightning speed to try to remake the federal government. Many Democrats and even some Republicans say his efforts are unlawful.
NBC News - 14h
Elon Musk’s Blitz Shakes U.S. Government as He Sweeps Through Agencies

The billionaire is creating major upheaval as his team sweeps through agencies, in what has been an extraordinary flexing of power by a private individual.
The New York Times - 23h
Trump defends Musk's role as government programs are targeted

President Trump defended Elon Musk's work in targeting government agencies and programs for cutbacks, including USAID. The White House says Musk is designated a "special government employee." NBC ...
NBC News - 1d
Elon Musk says Trump agreed to "shut down" USAID, government's primary humanitarian aid agency

CBS News has learned at least two top security officials at the U.S. Agency for International Development, USAID, have been placed on administrative leave after the two officials refused to allow ...
CBS News - 1d
USAID security leaders removed after refusing Elon Musk's DOGE employees access to secure systems

The U.S. Agency for International Development’s director of security and his deputy were placed on administrative leave Saturday after they tried to prevent employees from the Department of ...
NBC News - 1d
Can Elon Musk harness the power of AI to fix the government's immigration issues?

There are real opportunities to make revolutionary progress with AI right now. And they don’t require spending hundreds of billions of dollars.
The Hill - 4d
Government Tech Workers Forced to Defend Projects to Random Elon Musk Bros

A recent high school graduate and former Neuralink intern has joined meetings to review lines of code and other work history of career public servants, sparking chaos at a major government agency.
Wired - 5d
Elon Musk’s Next Target: Government Buildings

The tech billionaire and top Trump ally visited the General Services Administration, which appears to be a key part of his crusade to cut the cost of government buildings.
The New York Times - 5d
Some government employees dismayed after Musk jokes about buyout offer

After the Trump administration offered two million government employees buyouts on Tuesday, DOGE head Elon Musk joked about the offer, leaving some employees dismayed.
ABC News - 5d
Elon Musk and His Friends Help Trump Shake Up the Government

The billionaire and his Silicon Valley associates landed in the capital and immediately moved to cut the size of the federal government, reprising the playbook he used after buying Twitter in 2022.
The New York Times - 6d
Tesla investors want Elon Musk to answer questions about 'salute,' role in Trump White House

Tesla’s fourth-quarter earnings report lands just over a week after President Donald Trump began his second term in the White House, with Elon Musk right by his side.
NBC News - 6d
Tesla investors want Elon Musk to answer questions about 'salute,' role in Trump White House

Tesla shareholders are asking questions about CEO Elon Musk and his political distractions ahead of fourth-quarter call.
CNBC - 6d
Elon Musk Is Running the Twitter Playbook on the Federal Government

The US Office of Personnel Management is telling federal workers to get in line—or get out.
Wired - 6d
What Elon Musk’s Salute Was All About

A gesture associated with the Nazis has a surprising history. But in Germany, there was little doubt about its meaning.
The New York Times - Jan. 26
From DEI to WFH: Here’s What to Expect From Elon Musk’s DOGE When It’s Fully Operational

There are already some signals about which government expenses could be on the chopping block.
Inc. - Jan. 25
DOGE Will Allow Elon Musk to Surveil the US Government From the Inside

A former USDS employee called the repurposing of the Digital Service into DOGE an “A+ bureaucratic jiujitsu move.” It will give Musk and his associates access to unclassified data in every ...
Wired - Jan. 24
Did Elon Musk give a Nazi or Roman salute, and what’s the difference?

Historians say Musk clearly made Nazi salute – but supporter claims he was inspired by Roman greeting adopted by Benito Mussolini. The back-to-back gestures were swift and enthusiastic, and they ...
The Guardian - Jan. 21
Elon Musk once called his questions ‘boneheaded.’ What Wall Street is losing as this clear-eyed analyst retires.

With the incoming pro-business Trump administration, Wall Street needs people willing to ask hard questions and look into whether there’s substance behind bold corporate predictions.
MarketWatch - Jan. 18
What Elon Musk’s growing political clout could mean for 2025

Elon Musk, who once largely eschewed politics, now has a political clout of his own to throw around as President-elect Trump heads back to the Oval Office. The tech billionaire has become a driving ...
The Hill - Jan. 15
Inside Elon Musk’s Plan for DOGE to Slash Government Costs

Mr. Musk has turned to Silicon Valley to help recruit executives who will take up unofficial positions across the federal government.
The New York Times - Jan. 13
Ros Atkins: What 24 hours on Elon Musk's timeline tells us

The BBC's Analysis editor, Ros Atkins, investigates Elon Musk's recent posts on X about grooming gangs - and looks at how one day unfolded on his timeline.
BBC News - Jan. 10
What Is the U.K. ‘Grooming Gang’ Scandal Seized On by Elon Musk?

The billionaire tech mogul has been posting on his social media platform about a decade-old child sex abuse scandal in Britain. Here’s what to know.
The New York Times - Jan. 8
Elon Musk asks if America should 'liberate the people of Britain' in tirade against UK government

The tech billionaire and key advisor to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has taken to social media to air his grievances with the British government.
CNBC - Jan. 6