Elon Musk is now considered a special government employee, and is not accepting a paycheck

Elon Musk is now officially a U.S. federal government employee.

A White House spokesperson confirmed to Business Insider on Monday that the Tesla and SpaceX CEO has been designated as a "special government employee"—a position for which he will not receive a salary.

The "special government employee" classification is typically used for temporary workers with specialized expertise who do not intend to take on a permanent role. Unlike full-time federal employees, special government employees are exempt from many ethics and conflict-of-interest rules. This is particularly notable given that Musk’s companies, including Tesla and SpaceX, have received significant government contracts.

Under federal law, special government employees cannot serve more than 130 days within a 365-day period.

Musk’s DOGE Team Expands Its Reach

Musk’s "Department of Government Efficiency" is now an official part of the federal government. On his first day in office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order renaming the U.S. Digital Service as the U.S. DOGE Service.

Recently, Musk and his DOGE team have targeted the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), with Musk calling for the agency to be shut down entirely.

On Monday, USAID employees were informed that the agency’s building would be closed and that staffers would be required to work remotely, triggering backlash from Democratic lawmakers.