Musk is the volunteer head of DOGE, a brand new position in a brand new department created by President Donald Trump. According to the White House Office of Administration, Musk has only been advising the president as he “has no actual or formal authority to make government decisions himself.”

“President Trump has tasked Elon Musk with administering his America First agenda just like the rest of us who serve at the pleasure of the president but most importantly serve the American people,” Leavitt said on Fox News’s Hannity on Monday. “And there is no one better than Elon Musk to do that. He is a once-in-a-generation business leader. He sent rocket ships to space, is far smarter than many of the people who are grunting and moaning on Capitol Hill about these efforts are, and he’s the perfect person to help President Trump with this effort. The mainstream media wants to drive a wedge between their relationship, and they are failing.”

Leavitt’s comments come as the Office of Administration outlined Musk’s role in a court filing. This filing was the result of New Mexico’s lawsuit against Musk. The state is one of 13 states challenging DOGE’s reach into government agencies.

“Mr. Musk can only advise the President and communicate the President’s directives”  because he “has no actual or formal authority to make government decisions himself,” the filing read.

Trump promised that “Elon can’t do and won’t do anything without our approval.” Musk was credited with the decision to shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development headquarters weeks ago, and it will remain so until further notice.