Elon Musk’s Role in DOGE Disputed as White House Clarifies His Position
Elon Musk is not the leader of DOGE—the Trump administration’s secretive effort to restructure the federal bureaucracy—despite widespread speculation. In fact, according to court filings from the White House on Monday night, he isn’t even officially part of the operation.
A three-page declaration from Joshua Fisher, director of the White House’s Office of Administration, clarifies that Musk’s title is simply “senior adviser to the president.” The filing emphasizes that he has “no actual or formal authority to make government decisions himself.”
This statement contradicts public remarks from both President Donald Trump and Musk himself, who have spoken as though DOGE—short for the Department of Government Efficiency—is a Musk-driven initiative aimed at downsizing and overhauling key government agencies.
Despite Musk’s public association with DOGE, Fisher confirmed he is not its official administrator. However, the filing does not reveal who actually holds that position, deepening uncertainty about the office’s leadership.
While Musk may not be the technical head, DOGE has been staffed with his allies, and his influence over its operations remains undeniable. Musk has frequently promoted DOGE’s work, spoken about its impact, and even stood alongside Trump to discuss its mission. Trump, too, has openly credited Musk with leading the initiative.
“I’m going to tell [Elon Musk] very soon, like maybe in 24 hours, to go check the Department of Education,” Trump said in a Super Bowl interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier. “He’s going to find the same thing … Then I’m going to go, go to the military. Let’s check the military.”
However, Fisher’s filing introduces a legal gray area regarding Musk’s authority. It suggests Musk’s role is more akin to that of Anita Dunn, a senior adviser to President Joe Biden, who held a similar title without direct government decision-making power.
The declaration was submitted to U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is considering a lawsuit from Democratic attorneys general seeking to limit Musk’s influence over the federal government.
They argue that Musk has amassed so much power within DOGE that he is violating the Constitution’s Appointments Clause, which requires top executive branch officials to be confirmed by the Senate.
Chutkan is expected to rule soon on an emergency motion to restrict Musk’s involvement. While she appears unlikely to grant the request, she has asked the Trump administration for further details on the mass layoffs that DOGE has allegedly overseen across government agencies.
During a hearing Monday, Justice Department attorney Joshua Gardner declined to provide specifics on the job cuts DOGE has influenced. He stated that all personnel changes so far have been executed within federal agencies rather than by DOGE officials directly. However, Chutkan pressed the administration for more transparency on potential future job cuts.
As legal scrutiny intensifies, questions about DOGE’s true leadership and Musk’s role in its operations remain unanswered.
