On Monday, the White House attempted to offer clarification on the role that Elon Musk plays in the federal government, noting that the tech billionaire is not technically part of the Department of Government Efficiency.
The remarks came in a court filing from the director of the White House Office of Administration, Joshua Fisher, according to a report from Reuters. In the filing, Fisher argued that Musk is an employee of the “White House Office,” being that he serves as a senior adviser to the president.
“In his role as a Senior Advisor to the President, Mr. Musk has no greater authority than other senior White House advisors,” Fisher said in his declaration to the court.
The clarification has raised eyebrows as Musk has been extremely outspoken about leading efforts to cut federal spending and increase efficiency.
However, according to Fisher, Musk is not even an employee of the U.S. DOGE Service or the U.S. DOGE Service Temporary Organization, as both are separate from the White House Office.
Fisher also claims in the court filing that Musk isn’t the U.S. DOGE Service administrator, the top position that leadsDOGE, as laid out in the executive order President Trump signed last month when he created the department.
The order established the service but did not name Musk as its head. Fisher also notes that it didn’t give him any power either.
“Like other senior White House advisors, Mr. Musk has no actual or formal authority to make government decisions himself,” the filing said. “Mr. Musk can only advise the President and communicate the President’s directives.”
Drawing a comparison to the last administration, Fisher said Musk’s role is like that of Anita Dunn, who was a senior adviser to former President Biden.
The filing comes after 14 states brought a lawsuit against Musk, Trump, and DOGE, claiming that it was an unconstitutional move, being that Musk was not confirmed by the Senate.
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“Mr. Musk’s seemingly limitless and unchecked power to strip the government of its workforce and eliminate entire departments with the stroke of a pen or click of a mouse would have been shocking to those who won this country’s independence,” the lawsuit says.
“There is no office of the United States, other than the President, with the full power of the Executive Branch, and the sweeping authority now vested in a single unelected and unconfirmed individual is antithetical to the nation’s entire constitutional structure,” the states noted.
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