WASHINGTON — Elon Musk is set to join the federal government.

Previously, President Donald Trump appointed Musk to oversee the Department of Government Efficiency, although Musk, who is also the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, wasn’t officially a federal employee.

Just hours after Musk shared his intention to close down the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) on X, the social media platform he owns, a White House official announced to YSL News that he is now officially part of the federal government.

According to the official, Trump appointed Musk as a “special government employee.” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later confirmed to reporters that Musk was officially part of the administration. This designation permits Musk to work within the federal government for a limited time, either with or without pay. He has been assigned a government email and office, but it’s noted that he will not be receiving a salary.

Leavitt mentioned that she was unsure about Musk’s security clearance status or whether he had undergone a background check.

“He has complied with all necessary federal regulations,” she stated.

This new designation reinforces that Musk is collaborating closely with Trump. Musk had discussed his plans to restructure USAID with Trump and received the president’s complete support. Recently, the White House announced that USAID would be temporarily managed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

It remains unclear when Musk received this special government employee status, which permits him to work for the government for 130 days per year without needing to publicly disclose his financial information. Former President Joe Biden had also used this authority during his time in office to hire a senior aide.

Some of Musk’s initial initiatives, such as the USAID proposal, have sparked controversy. However, Trump expressed confidence in Musk’s efforts to streamline government operations.

“Sometimes we may not fully agree, but I think he is doing an excellent job,” Trump shared with reporters.

During a meeting in the Oval Office, the president conveyed his general approval of Musk’s actions.

“Elon can and will not take any steps without our authorization, and we’ll support him when suitable. In cases where it isn’t appropriate, we won’t,” Trump remarked. “He reports back to us, and his passion is evident, especially since he leads a large corporation.”

Trump assured that they would keep Musk clear from government matters that could create conflicts of interest.

“If we see potential conflicts or issues, we won’t allow him to engage with it, but he has valuable ideas,” Trump noted.

Contributing: Zac Anderson

Francesca Chambers is a White House Correspondent. You can follow her on X @fran_chambers.