‘Just another advisor’: White House sets record straight over Musk’s role amid federal overhaul

At the heart of the controversy is DOGE’s sweeping review of federal agencies, which could lead to thousands of layoffs.

The White House insists that billionaire Elon Musk is not officially part of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) but is merely a senior advisor to President Donald Trump. However, as lawsuits mount over the administration’s aggressive cost-cutting measures, questions are swirling over just how much power Musk holds.

At the heart of the controversy is DOGE’s sweeping review of federal agencies, which could lead to thousands of layoffs. Several Democratic-led states have sued, arguing that Musk has been granted "virtually unchecked power" without being elected or Senate-confirmed, according to a report by Associated Press. The Trump administration, however, is pushing back, claiming Musk is not a DOGE employee and has “no actual authority to make government decisions himself,” according to court filings from Joshua Fisher, director of the White House Office of Administration, as quoted by Associated Press.

As per recent developments, Musk’s influence is undeniable. He has openly championed DOGE’s mission on his social media platform X and even made a public appearance at the White House. Adding to the confusion, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt recently told Fox News that Musk is overseeing the initiative, only to later refuse to confirm who officially leads DOGE.

"Elon Musk, just like everybody else across the federal government, works at the direction of President Trump," Leavitt told reporters, maintaining that individual agency heads, not Musk, are responsible for layoff decisions.

Meanwhile, DOGE’s work has sparked a wave of legal challenges. The team has been diving into government budgets, accessing federal databases, and hunting for inefficiencies, but critics argue they may be overstepping legal boundaries. At least two lawsuits have singled out Musk himself.

Adding fuel to the fire, Musk last week called for the U.S. to "delete entire agencies" in an effort to drastically cut spending.

During a hearing on Monday, US District Judge Tanya Chutkan appeared skeptical when Justice Department lawyers claimed Musk had no formal power.

“I think you stretch too far. I disagree with you there,” Chutkan remarked, signalling that the legal fight over Musk’s role in reshaping the federal government is far from over.