"Government Efficiency Department Head Musk to Move into the White House Building"

Eisenhower Executive Office Building in the West Wing Expected for Musk's New Role
Musk to Oversee Department of Government Efficiency from White House Complex

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, who has been nominated as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), is reported to be moving into an office within the White House complex. Musk, who has emerged as a close aide to President-elect Donald Trump, is expected to maintain a close relationship after the new administration takes office.

According to sources cited by the New York Times (NYT) on the 13th (local time), Musk will use the Eisenhower Executive Office Building located in the West Wing of the White House to carry out his duties for the Department of Government Efficiency. Musk reportedly discussed his level of access to the West Wing with the Trump transition team, but no decision has been made yet. Typically, a special pass is required to freely enter and exit the West Wing.

EPA Yonhap News

The NYT explained, "Musk has often stayed at one of the rentable Mar-a-Lago estates even after Trump's election victory," adding, "Musk, who owns companies with federal contracts worth billions of dollars, will be able to maintain significant contact with Trump, who is inaugurated this month."

However, the status of Vivek Ramaswamy, a former Republican presidential primary candidate who was also appointed as co-head of the Department of Government Efficiency alongside Musk, remains unclear. It is known that employees who have joined the department are currently working at SpaceX’s Washington D.C. office, the space company led by Musk.

Despite being tasked with the significant mission of cutting federal spending and eliminating various regulations, the Department of Government Efficiency’s specific activities and structure remain shrouded in secrecy even as Trump’s inauguration approaches in about a week. Most communication reportedly takes place via the encrypted messaging app Signal.

So far, it has been revealed that venture capitalists familiar with Musk participated in the selection process for department staff, and that after the formal launch of the Trump administration, Silicon Valley figures, including executives from big tech companies, will be assigned two per major government department to begin cost-cutting efforts. Instead of creating another identical government department, employees dispatched to public offices will diagnose problems directly, share them via messenger, and find solutions.

The NYT stated, "It is unlikely that the Department of Government Efficiency will take the form of an external agency or nonprofit organization," and added, "Sources believe Musk will be granted the status of a 'special public official,' allowing him to work fewer than 130 days per year." However, if Musk’s companies become involved in the department’s work, it will be difficult to avoid controversy over conflicts of interest.

Meanwhile, Musk has announced plans to hire a small number of full-time employees for back-office roles such as engineering and human resources. Engineers will use artificial intelligence (AI) to identify budget-saving opportunities. The NYT reported that Musk required volunteers for the department to work 80 hours per week unpaid for six months.