According to journalists, this means that Musk is not a volunteer, even though he does not receive a salary, nor is he a full-time government employee.
An unnamed official cited by the media stated that Musk has a highly classified security clearance.
The authors of the article claim that as a special government employee, Musk is subject to the U.S. conflict of interest law, which prohibits government officials from participating in matters that could affect their financial interests. This law can be applied in both criminal and civil contexts.
On January 6, Bloomberg reported that Musk invested over $250 million in Trump's campaign. He participated in Trump's phone conversations with foreign leaders and, according to media reports, influenced the formation of the new administration.
On February 3, Trump assured that Musk cannot and will not do anything without the approval of the president's administration, as reported by CNN.