The official title of billionaire Elon Musk, who is heading Donald Trump's newly created DOGE department, was revealed by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Speaking about Elon Musk, Leavitt stated he is a “special government employee”, who abides by all applicable federal laws. (AP/File)
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Speaking about Musk, Leavitt stated he is a “special government employee”, who abides by all applicable federal laws.
On his security clearance, she said, “As for his security clearance, I'm not sure, but I can check...I don't know about the security clearance, but I can check.”
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Know about special government employee designation
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Musk, the ardent Trump supporter who has been tasked with a mission to reduce federal government spending, is neither a full-time employee nor a volunteer. The ethics and conflict-of-interest rules that special government employees must follow are usually less strict than those that apply to federal employees. As they are temporary jobs, they are exempt from some of the disclosure requirements that apply to full-time positions.
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Musk, the ardent Trump supporter who has been tasked with a mission to reduce federal government spending, is neither a full-time employee nor a volunteer. The ethics and conflict-of-interest rules that special government employees must follow are usually less strict than those that apply to federal employees. As they are temporary jobs, they are exempt from some of the disclosure requirements that apply to full-time positions.
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Such personnel can work up to 130 days in a calendar year, according to the Justice Department website. For instance, Musk could work half a day and it would only count as half a day.
“A special government employee is anyone who works, or is expected to work, for the government for 130 days or less in a 365-day period,” the department's website says. “Special government employees are subject to most rules, although sometimes in a less restrictive way.”
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According to CNN, Musk is neither a volunteer, nor a full-time federal employee.
Trump appointed Musk to head the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). This came after Trump's executive order on his first day in office renamed the U.S. Digital Service as the U.S. DOGE Service and established DOGE inside the Executive Office of the President.
Under the executive order, DOGE was mandated to “maximize governmental efficiency and productivity.”
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Members of the DOGE team can include agency employees or recently hired temporary workers who are classified as special government employees, like Musk.
Shweta Kukreti has over 8 years of experience in covering Indian and world politics. She joined the Hindustan Times in 2024 and is primarily assigned to the US desk. She currently works as Deputy Chief Content Producer and reports on a wide range of topics, including US politics, immigration issues (especially H-1B visa) and major global events. Shweta strongly emphasizes team operations, which encompasses monitoring news, delegating tasks, editing, developing comprehensive coverage strategies, and crafting engaging, and data-informed narratives. She received the Digi Star Award at the Hindustan Times within a year of joining for her broad coverage of US politics. In 2025, she earned both a promotion and a redesignation, a significant achievement recognising her contributions and the strong value she brings to the team. She has previously worked with the Indian Express, HTDS, ANI and Republic World. Seniors in all the media organisations recognised her work. Regarding education, she earned a BA (Hons.) in Political Science and a master's degree from Delhi University, and she pursued a PG Diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Institution of Mass Communication (IIMC). She also holds a diploma in Women's Empowerment and Development from IGNOU University and a French certification course from Alliance Française de Delhi. If not working, you can find her exploring the hills and engaging in adventurous activities in Rishikesh and Himachal Pradesh. She loves to play badminton, volleyball, and chess, and spend time with her friends and family. She also enjoys spiritual activities.
Stay updated with US News covering politics, crime, weather, local events, and sports highlights. Get the latest on Donald Trump and American politics along with Horoscope 2026.
Stay updated with US News covering politics, crime, weather, local events, and sports highlights. Get the latest on Donald Trump and American politics along with Horoscope 2026.
Home/World News/Us News/Elon Musk's ‘special’ job title revealed as Trump Press Secretary stumbles over his security clearance; ‘Not sure, but…’
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