Elon Musk’s Government Role Sparks Controversy: White House Confirms He’s Just a “Part-Time Employee”

A shocking revelation from the White House has sent waves through political and tech circles alike—Elon Musk, once thought to be a key figure in a major government initiative, is reportedly just a “part-time employee.”

The disclosure, made by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on February 25, raises major questions about Musk’s actual influence in Washington and the real leadership behind the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—an agency that was expected to have Musk at the helm.

The Mysterious Leadership of DOGE

When President Donald Trump signed an executive order to establish the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) early in his administration, Elon Musk’s name was front and center. Given his reputation for innovation and disruption in the private sector, many believed Musk would play a crucial role in streamlining government operations.

However, recent statements from White House officials suggest that Musk is neither the head of DOGE nor a full-time employee.

During a press briefing, Leavitt was repeatedly pressed about who actually runs DOGE and why Musk’s involvement has been shrouded in secrecy.

“DOGE has leadership, but we are not disclosing that information at this time,” Leavitt told reporters.

When asked specifically whether Musk was leading the department, her response was even more startling:

“Elon Musk is a special government employee.”

While the term “special government employee” is often used for consultants and advisors working part-time in federal agencies, it was not the title many expected for the billionaire CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and X (formerly Twitter).

Who Is Actually in Charge?

As speculation mounted, CNN reported that Amy Gleason—a name unfamiliar to most Americans—is the actual head of DOGE.

Gleason, a health care technology expert who previously worked under the Obama administration’s U.S. Digital Service, has not made any public statements about her role.

This revelation raises more questions than answers. If Musk isn’t leading DOGE, why was he publicly linked to the initiative for so long? And if Gleason has been running the department, why has her leadership been kept under wraps?

Musk’s Role: An Oversell or Strategic Misdirection?

The ambiguity surrounding Musk’s position is fueling widespread confusion and frustration.

Some believe Musk was never meant to be the department’s true leader and was simply a high-profile name attached to the project for political optics.

Others argue that Musk himself misunderstood his own role, assuming he had more authority than he actually did.

During the same press briefing, Leavitt attempted to downplay the confusion, stating:

“DOGE has other officials who were appointed through the proper channels. I won’t disclose their names here, but we have been completely transparent about how DOGE operates.”

However, that claim didn’t sit well with many observers, given the lack of clarity about who actually runs the agency.

Musk to Attend White House Cabinet Meeting

Despite the controversy, the White House confirmed that Musk will attend President Trump’s first Cabinet meeting under his new term, scheduled for February 26.

Leavitt assured reporters:

“Elon Musk is working alongside the President and our Cabinet Secretaries. The entire administration will be present tomorrow.”

This statement only added to the confusion—if Musk isn’t the head of DOGE, why is he attending high-level government meetings typically reserved for senior officials?

Federal Agencies in Disarray

Musk’s unclear role isn’t just a media controversy—it has also caused disruptions within federal agencies.

Over the weekend, Musk reportedly sent an internal email demanding that all federal employees under his purview submit a five-point summary of their accomplishments for the week.

This demand reportedly left many agencies scrambling, as it was unclear who actually reported to Musk.

Even a Department of Justice lawyer was at a loss when Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly pressed them on who leads DOGE, responding:

“I’m not sure how to answer that question.”

Political Fallout and Public Reaction

The situation has sparked a firestorm of criticism from both political analysts and government officials.

Many see it as a sign of dysfunction within the Trump administration, while others argue it exposes the pitfalls of relying on billionaires to fix government inefficiencies.

One former government official, speaking anonymously, said:

“This whole situation looks like an attempt to leverage Musk’s name without actually giving him real control. It’s political theater at its finest.”

On social media, the reaction has been just as fierce.

“#MuskScandal” began trending within hours of the White House press briefing, with some mocking Musk’s “part-time” status and others demanding more transparency about DOGE’s leadership.