Musk's Government Role Sparks Debate Amid Contradictory Statements

According to BlockBeats, Elon Musk made conflicting statements regarding his government role during Tesla's earnings call. Initially, Musk suggested he would reduce his involvement with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) starting in May. However, he later indicated he might remain involved in government affairs until 2029, when U.S. President Donald Trump's term ends. Musk stated his intention to continue working on government matters to prevent waste and fraud, dedicating one or two days a week as long as it remains beneficial and desired by the President. Musk's current role in the government is at the edge of legal boundaries in Washington. The White House describes him as a "special government employee." However, Max Stier, CEO of the Partnership for Public Service, argues that granting Musk extensive powers to manage DOGE, dismiss employees, and cut federal agencies was a misapplication of the Special Government Employee Act from the start. The Trump administration has been criticized for exploiting this mechanism by hiring Musk and others to bypass restrictions typically imposed on full-time employees, such as conflict of interest and security clearance requirements.