White House Clarifies: Elon Musk is Trump’s Adviser, Not the DOGE Administrator

In Washington, the White House clarified that Elon Musk is not leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team. Instead, he serves as a senior adviser to President Trump.

Musk’s role is significant in the ongoing legal battles regarding DOGE’s access to government data, especially as the Trump administration plans to cut many federal jobs. By labeling Musk as an adviser rather than the person managing daily operations, the administration aims to counter claims that he wields too much power without being elected or confirmed by the Senate.

This clarification was made amid a lawsuit from several Democratic states trying to prevent Musk and DOGE from using government systems. They argue that he has “virtually unchecked power,” which may go against the Constitution.

The Trump administration argues that Musk does not have the authority to make government decisions. Joshua Fisher, head of the White House Office of Administration, stated this in court filings. Importantly, they did not specify who actually runs DOGE, despite Musk promoting their work on his social media account and during a White House event.

The DOGE team has been visiting various federal agencies, examining computer systems, reviewing budgets, and looking for waste and misuse of funds. However, they face several lawsuits claiming that their actions are unlawful, with at least two directly targeting Musk.

During a recent court hearing, U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan expressed doubt about the administration’s stance, suggesting that they were overreaching in their claims. “I think you stretch too far. I disagree with you there,” she remarked.