The news, first reported by Semafor, is the first time the White House has confirmed who is overseeing the team of government cost-cutters. The White House previously said Musk was not officially leading DOGE, leaving the role of the team’s administrator ambiguous. Musk is a White House employee and a senior advisor to the president.

As the Department of Government Efficiency upends decades of tradition in Washington, more scrutiny is being cast on the structure and authority of the initiative.

Elon Musk’s threat to federal employees is the latest episode to call into question the White House’s downplaying of his authority.

The billionaire adviser to the president is sitting in on the meeting with the heads of agencies such as the state department and Pentagon.