Elon Musk is likely to be given office space in the West Wing, giving him close proximity to President Trump as the world’s richest man steers a project that aims to cut as much as $2 trillion in government spending, two people with knowledge of the planning said.
Mr. Musk had been expected to be situated in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, which is in the White House complex but not in the West Wing proper. But he has for many days been asking about his level of access, signaling a desire for proximity to Mr. Trump, according to the people.
Mr. Trump had wanted Mr. Musk to have the space, one of the people said. Mr. Musk has been given a badge for the White House complex and filled out paperwork to be brought onboard for the role.
Trump officials and an official with the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, which Mr. Musk leads, did not respond to requests for comment.
Mr. Musk spent time on Sunday at SpaceX’s Washington headquarters before Mr. Trump’s inauguration. Mr. Musk’s government-cutting team has largely spent the past two months at the rocket company’s downtown offices, joined by a number of engineers who hail from Silicon Valley and are planning to be dispersed across the federal government, with a goal of placing about two people at each major agency.