What is Elon Musk's role in the Trump administration?

According to court filings from the White House, Elon Musk serves as a senior advisor to the president but is not an official employee of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The administration has explicitly clarified that Musk has no formal authority to make government decisions himself. This clarification came in response to a lawsuit filed by New Mexico and 14 other states challenging Musk's position. The White House statement definitively establishes Musk's advisory role while limiting his direct decision-making power in governmental operations, an important distinction as legal challenges continue.