The SGE designation, which has come under scrutiny under Democrats as well, exempts short-term federal employees from certain disclosure rules.

President Trump made Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency, a 'special government employee' at the White House. Here's what that means.

Elon Musk is working for President Donald Trump as a “special government employee,” according to a White House official, solidifying his controversial role in the administration but sidestepping some disclosure rules that are typical of federal workers.

Musk, who has promised "mass head-count reductions" across the federal bureaucracy, has drawn wide scrutiny in recent days as his team has been given access to or has taken contro

Now that Elon Musk has been classified as a "special government employee," he will get greater access to U.S. government agencies.

And it means Donald Trump's top ally is "subject to most rules, although sometimes in a less restrictive way.”