Trump makes DOGE head Elon Musk a 'special government employee' amid accusations of a takeover

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Source: USA Today

WASHINGTON — Elon Musk is joining the federal government after all.

President Donald Trump previously tapped Musk to lead his Department of Government Efficiency, but the tech billionaire, who also serves as the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, was not technically a federal employee.

Hours after Musk announced a plan to shutter the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) on X, the social media platform he owns, a White House official told USA TODAY he was officially joining the federal government.

Trump made Musk a "special government employee," the official said. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later confirmed to reporters that Musk had officially joined the administration. The designation allows Musk to work for the federal government with or without compensation for a limited amount of time. He also received a government email and an office. The administration official said Musk would not receive a paycheck.

Read more: https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-makes-doge-head-elon-183454590.html

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As in special needs?

[madaboutharry]

1. "Special Government Employee" sounds like something the White House made up this morning.

I think it is beginning to dawn on people that we are officially in the midst of a coup. Trump, Musk, Vance, the Cabinet, republican senators and congress people along with all the sycophants and lackeys are attempting to unravel democracy.

America is under attack from within. It is going to take extraordinary action from democrats in elected office to fight back. And the American people are going to need to understand what is at stake.

[SunSeeker]

7. Like Putin's "Special Military Operation," i.e. invasion of Ukraine. nt

[madaboutharry]

8. I bet that is where they got it from.

[PortTack]

2. Orange buffoon may have made him an employee...it doesn't make what he's doing any less unlawful

[pfitz59]

3. And his gang of teenage hackers?

What are they?

[orangecrush]

4. Really?

No senate confirmation, no test, nada zip zero.

Just a decree from the fuhrer.

He's a "special government employee" like my Johnson.

[TexasTowelie]

5. He didn't even have to pee in the cup to get the job. nt

[SunSeeker]

6. This makes him subject to public records act requests. Go get 'em!

[Lulu KC]

9. Well, isn't that special

Groaning.

[angrychair]

10. What the hell is that?

"special government employee" is not a thing.
I do think they fell into a trap though. If he is now a government employee he will now be held to legal and ethical standards. Security clearances. Regulations on the proper handling of classified documents.
In short the rules now apply.

[travelingthrulife]

11. Impeach Trump now.

[Ray Bruns]

12. Yea he's "special" alright.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

13. Upside to Musk being a special government employee, he has to leave in May

Musk does not want to comply with the ethics rules or to make the required disclosures. Musk and TFG thing that they are being cute by labeling Musk as a "special government employee" to avoid these issues. There is an upside. As a special government employee, Musk is limited to 130 days working for the federal government

Link to tweet

It's a small consolation but the attempt to avoid ethics rules and financial disclosures and Senate confirmation has pushed Musk into a position where he has to leave the government in 100 days.

[EarthFirst]

14. Does anyone know how much time must elapse between "SGE" -let's call them contracts...

I know there is a specified amount of time one can be designated a SGE; not that any of this matters to them; however is there a specified amount of time that is required before another appointment?

Are there limits to the number of consecutive contracts one can commit?

[LetMyPeopleVote]

15. The DOJ and Congressional republicans/trump are pushing two different and contradictory stories

The courts are asking trump and the DOJ to explain Musk role in DOGE and the DOJ is claiming that Musk is a special government employee who is NOT in charge of DOGE. Congressional republicans and trump have a different story. Courts tend to get pissed when lie to.

Link to tweet