Elon Musk has officially become a member of the federal government. Initially selected by President Donald Trump to lead the Department of Government Efficiency, Musk, the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, was not considered a federal employee. However, following his announcement to close the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) on his social media platform, a White House official has confirmed that he has now joined the federal government.
Musk has been appointed as a “special government employee,” allowing him to work for the government either with or without compensation for a limited period. This new status demonstrates Musk’s collaboration with Trump, who endorsed his plan to dismantle USAID. The White House has disclosed that USAID will temporarily fall under the jurisdiction of Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
This news was first reported by USA TODAY.