Elon Musk’s unique role as a “special government employee” (SGE) under the Trump administration. The designation allows Musk to serve in a limited capacity for the government, participating in activities like serving on boards and committees, without the need to make extensive public financial disclosures. The position is temporary, with Musk allowed to work no more than 130 days per year.
In this role, Musk is tasked with leading the Department of Government Efficiency, which involves initiatives like streamlining federal jobs and spending. While Musk holds significant influence, including access to Treasury disbursements, his position raises concerns about potential conflicts of interest, given his ties to various companies like Tesla, SpaceX, and Neuralink.
Musk also claims to be sleeping in the DOGE office in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, D.C. It’s a practice he engaged in at Tesla as early as 2018. Musk encouraged his employees to do the same in order to ensure the timely rollout of his electric vehicles.
“We’ll be sleeping on the [manufacturing] line, practically. Not practically, we will be,” he said in an earnings call last January.
Sleeping in his office would help Musk maximize his 130 days, as an October 2024 memo issued by the U.S. Office of Government Ethics did not set a clear hour limit for a day of service.
However, because he is not paid directly by the government, Musk is not subject to the usual public disclosures required for regular government employees.
Despite the tight schedule, Musk’s extended hours and near-continuous involvement seem to show how he is maximizing his 130-day limit. There are no explicit penalties for exceeding this limit, although the government may re-evaluate his status after a year.
His growing autonomy has stirred some unease within the administration, with reports of clashes and concerns about Musk’s influence and control over government operations. However, President Trump emphasized that Musk’s actions would still require his approval.
