The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) does not have the statutory authority to fire people, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday. Leavitt told CNN that DOGE has only an advisory role and "it's ultimately up to the discretion of these secretaries to make these hirings and firings.

President Donald Trump's administration said some federal government employees who took the "Fork in the Road" buyout offer were then fired or let go — in error.

According to a White House court filing Elon Musk is not an official employee of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and does not have formal decision-making power. DOGE, which was created by Trump to cut government spending,