The White House confirmed on Monday that Elon Musk has no formal authority in the Department of Government Efficiency (D.O.G.E).
The statement clarifies that while Musk serves as a senior adviser to President Donald Trump, he does not have decision-making power within the agency responsible for streamlining government operations.
The court filing states Musk’s role Is limited
A federal court filing signed by Joshua Fisher, director of the Office of Administration, emphasizes that Musk is not an employee of D.O.G.E and holds no administrative position. The document states that, like other senior advisers, Musk can provide input but does not have the authority to implement policies or make government decisions.
Speculation about Musk’s influence grew after reports suggested that his team had identified government programs for cuts. The White House’s statement aims to address these concerns, reinforcing that official government actions remain under the authority of Senate-confirmed officials.
Lawsuit challenges Musk’s access to federal data
A legal battle is underway regarding Musk’s access to government systems and his potential role in federal employee layoffs. On Monday, U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan held an emergency hearing after attorneys general from 13 Democratic-led states filed a lawsuit to block Musk’s team from accessing databases and making personnel decisions.
The lawsuit claims that Musk’s involvement has led to targeted layoffs and the shutdown of specific federal programs. The states are asking the court to restrict D.O.G.E from accessing systems at several key agencies, including Labor, Education, and Health and Human Services. During the hearing, Chutkan pressed government lawyers on whether mass firings had already occurred, but they could not provide a definitive answer.
Multiple lawsuits challenge D.O.G.E’s authority
At least 20 lawsuits are currently challenging Musk’s role in D.O.G.E, with plaintiffs arguing that he is exercising power that requires Senate confirmation. A recent ruling by U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas in New York temporarily blocked Musk’s team from accessing Treasury Department systems. However, other judges have allowed D.O.G.E to continue operating in various agencies.
Active operations continue for the department despite encountering legal difficulties. The “D.O.G.E affiliate” campaign has appeared across multiple federal agencies to accept reports on waste and fraud from citizens. The account managed by D.O.G.E made a public request for information about Securities and Exchange Commission inefficiencies on Monday. The legal battles about Musk’s position within D.O.G.E comprise ongoing disputes involving billions of taxpayer money alongside thousands of government employees.