Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, is slated to participate in President Donald Trump’s upcoming Cabinet meeting, showcasing Musk’s significant influence within the Trump administration. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Musk’s attendance, highlighting his role in overseeing the Department of Government Efficiency, where he will address efforts related to identifying waste, fraud, and abuse within government agencies.

Typically, Cabinet meetings are attended by appointed Cabinet secretaries, the White House chief of staff, the president, and the vice president. This meeting follows recent directives from Musk to federal department heads, urging employees to voluntarily submit a list of accomplishments or face potential termination, a move that some departments refrained from implementing citing national security concerns.

Under Musk’s leadership, the DOGE initiative, focused on reducing federal spending and streamlining the federal workforce, has been actively progressing since Trump’s return to the White House. Despite being labeled a “special government employee,” Musk does not receive compensation for his advisory role and lacks formal decision-making authority within DOGE.

The White House has legally defended Musk’s position as a senior advisor overseeing DOGE, emphasizing his lack of direct decision-making power and disassociating him from formal employment under DOGE. This clarification was in response to legal challenges from Democratic state attorneys general questioning Musk’s role in the administration. Musk’s involvement underscores his unique position as a prominent figure shaping government efficiency initiatives without formal bureaucratic ties.