Topline
Unofficial Department of Government Efficiency chief Elon Musk’s private security detail may get additional powers, according to multiple outlets, as members of the detail are deputized by the U.S. Marshals Service as the tech billionaire recently expressed concerns over his safety.
The deputations were reported Thursday. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Key Facts
An unknown number of Musk’s security guards have been deputized by the U.S. Marshals Service, according to CNN, which cited three unnamed law enforcement officials familiar with the matter and noted Musk has told close contacts about an increase in death threats against him.
Musk, a special government employee, does not have a Secret Service detail like President Donald Trump, though sources told CNN the size of the billionaire’s detail is rivaled only by the president’s.
Musk said Thursday at the Conservative Political Action Conference his private security detail is not “enormous” before suggesting it could be bigger.
The U.S. Marshals Service and Justice Department did not immediately respond to Forbes’ request for comment.
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What Rights Does Musk’s Security Detail Have After Being Deputized?
It’s unclear what specific authorities Musk’s detail has been given following deputation, but it is possible the group could carry weapons on federal premises, a right typically granted to special deputies. However, the rights of special deputies can be limited to their specific assignment, meaning they are only granted certain rights in particular situations, events and places, according to a Justice Department audit of the U.S. Marshals Service’s deputation authority. Private security details are barred from carrying weapons in places like the White House and the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi told CBS, though he did not elaborate on Musk’s security staff. The deputation of Musk’s detail also means the U.S. Marshals Service could be held liable if something went wrong with the security members it deputized, CNN reported.
What Is Special Deputation?
Special deputation refers to granting designated people federal law enforcement authority, according to the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General, which adds the process allows people to act as federal law enforcement officers under supervision of the federal government. To become a special deputy, individuals must submit a request to the attorney general and explain the reasons behind their request, according to the Justice Department. Deputations remain in effect for one year.
Have Other People—like Anthony Fauci—had Deputized Security?
Yes. Dr. Anthony Fauci, who advised Trump on the COVID-19 pandemic, had his security detail deputized in 2020 after receiving threats to his safety. However, Fauci was reportedly guarded by other government employees—specifcally, agents from the Health and Human Services inspector general’s office—unlike Musk, who has private security.
Can Musk Receive Secret Service Protection?
Yes, according to the U.S. Secret Service, which notes protection can be authorized for individuals through an executive order by the president.
Tangent
An Indiana man was recently charged with felony intimidation for allegedly making multiple threats against Musk on his platform X, formerly known as Twitter. One of the threats, according to Fox 7, said “We’re gunning you down, next Muskrat.”
Forbes Valuation
We estimate Musk’s net worth at $383 billion, making him the world’s wealthiest person ahead of Mark Zuckerberg ($236 billion) and Jeff Bezos ($230 billion).
Key Background
The New York Times equated Musk’s security detail to “a mini-Secret Service” last year, reporting that Musk travels with as many as 20 security guards tasked with devising escape routes and clearing rooms before Musk enters them. Musk and his companies have spent millions of dollars on his security, according to the Times, which reported three people close to the businessman have said he has become more fearful and isolated as a result of threats to his safety. Musk has publicly spoken about his security and death threats against him on multiple occasions, saying at Thursday’s Conservative Political Action Conference he is “open to ideas” on improving his security. At a town hall last year, the billionaire also linked his involvement in politics to an increase in threats against his security, saying “dramatically increasing my risk of being assassinated and engaging in politics are not what I want to do.” Musk’s concerns about his security stretch back years: In 2022, his social media platform X suspended an account dedicated to tracking the whereabouts of his private jet using public data, and also suspended several journalists whom Musk accused of posting his “exact real-time location, basically assassination coordinates.”
Further Reading
Is Elon Musk Running DOGE? Trump Administration Tries To Downplay Billionaire’s Authority In Court (Forbes)
Major Lawsuits Against Trump And Musk: Judge Declines To Hold Administration In Contempt For Suspending Foreign Aid Funds (Forbes)
