Elon Musk is joining the US government after all as special employee but at no cost to America as he would not be needing any wage for his services.

President Donald Trump previously tapped Musk to lead his Department of Government Efficiency, but the tech billionaire, who also serves as the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, was not technically a federal employee. But now, he is, according to a source familiar with his relationship with Trump administration.

Hours after Musk announced a plan to shutter the U.S.

Agency for International Development (USAID) on X, the social media platform he owns, a White House official told USA TODAY he was officially joining the federal government.

Trump made Musk a “special government employee,” the official said. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later confirmed to reporters that Musk had officially joined the administration. The designation allows Musk to work for the federal government with or without compensation for a limited amount of time. He also received a government email and an office. The administration official said Musk would not receive a paycheck.

Leavitt said she didn’t know the status of Musk’s security clearance or whether he had completed a background check.

“He has abided by all applicable federal laws,” she said.

The status change affirms that Musk is working in lockstep with Trump, whom he said he ran his plans to dismantle USAID by and had the president’s full backing to pursue.

The White House said on Monday that USAID would temporarily be put under Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s control.

It is not clear when Musk received the special government employee designation, which allows him to work for the federal government for 130 days over a year without having to publicly disclose his finances. Former President Joe Biden utilized the same authority to hire a top aide during his administration.

-usatoday

The United Kingdom is currently experiencing shortage of workers across a wide range of industries; a situation that is reported to have placed significant pressure on the economy.

In order to tackle this issue, the UK government has introduced new visa programs and work regulations aimed at attracting international talent to fill essential roles.

These changes come as sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, and construction struggle to find enough local workers.

The labour shortage has become so critical that businesses in various industries are now turning to foreign workers to maintain operations. According to the DAAD Scholarship, recruitment drives, adjustments to the ETA system, and the introduction of new visa categories have been implemented to streamline the hiring process for international workers.

Key industries facing labour shortages in 2025
A number of sectors are particularly struggling with a lack of workers in 2025, reports inform. From agriculture to healthcare, nearly every sector is reporting difficulties in filling key roles.

1. Agriculture

Agriculture in the UK has been hit especially hard according to reports, with many farms relying heavily on seasonal foreign workers. Roles such as fruit pickers, dairy farm assistants, and greenhouse workers are difficult to fill as fewer local workers are willing to take on the physically demanding jobs.

To address this, the Seasonal Worker Visa has been made available for foreign workers, offering short-term employment opportunities. Workers in these roles typically earn between £10.42 and £12.00 per hour, depending on their experience.

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2. Healthcare and social care

The UK healthcare system is facing significant staff shortages, particularly in nursing and caregiving, according to reports. With an aging population and rising demand for healthcare services, positions such as care workers, home support workers, and nursing assistants are urgently needed.

To help fill these gaps, the Health and Care Worker Visa has been introduced, allowing international workers to come to the UK and take up essential healthcare roles. These positions offer salaries ranging from £10.75 to £16.00 per hour.

3. Construction and trades

The construction industry is also experiencing a shortage of skilled workers. Key roles in the sector, such as bricklayers, plumbers, and electricians, are in high demand due to ongoing infrastructure projects and urban development. These positions often come with competitive pay, with experienced workers in certain roles earning upwards of £25 per hour.

The Skilled Worker Visa is being used to bring in foreign workers who have the necessary skills to fill these positions.

4. Hospitality and tourism

With tourism rebounding after the pandemic, the hospitality sector according to DAAD Scholarship, has seen a surge in demand, but struggles to find enough workers to meet this demand. Roles such as chefs, waiters, and hotel receptionists are particularly hard to fill.

The government is offering both the Skilled Worker Visa and the Temporary Work Visa to attract foreign talent to these high-demand roles, with salaries for these positions ranging from £10.50 to £14.00 per hour.

Visa pathways for foreign workers
In response to the ongoing labour shortages, the UK government has introduced several visa options to allow foreign workers to fill these vacancies:

Seasonal worker visa: This visa is available for industries such as agriculture, retail, and events. It allows foreign workers to come to the UK for short-term, seasonal work.

Skilled worker visa: This visa targets sectors that require specific skill sets, such as healthcare, construction, and hospitality. It allows workers with particular expertise to take up long-term roles in the UK.
Health and care worker visa: Exclusively for the healthcare sector, this visa facilitates the recruitment of care workers and other healthcare professionals from abroad.

Temporary work visa: This visa is designed for industries with fluctuating, seasonal demand, such as hospitality, events, and retail.

These visa categories are part of a larger effort to address the labour shortages as stated, and ensure that key sectors can continue operating effectively.

The labour shortages in the UK are being felt across multiple industries, and the introduction of new visa programs is perceived as a step in addressing this issue.
These initiatives are designed to bring in foreign workers to fill critical roles, from healthcare and construction to agriculture and hospitality. By opening up more pathways for international workers, the UK hopes to ease the pressure on its economy and support industries in need of labor.

With these changes, foreign professionals are now able to access a variety of work opportunities in the UK, benefiting both the workers and the industries they support.

A former Minister of Power, Dr. Olu Agunloye, was yesterday re-arraigned before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Apo on a seven-count amended charge the amendment made by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed against him.

Agunloye pleaded not guilty when the charge bordering on forgery, disobedience of a presidential order and corruption on the 3,960 megawatts (MW) Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Station in Taraba State, was read to him by a court official.

The prosecution alleged, among others, that the former minister received N5.212 million from Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited (SPTCL) and Leno Adesanya through Jide Abiodun Sotinrin.

The money was allegedly paid into Agunloye’s Guaranty Trust Bank account for conveying the Federal Government’s approval for the construction of the power station in favour of SPTCL while serving as minister.

Testifying yesterday, the second prosecution witness (PW2), Adewale Agunbiade, a Compliance Officer with Jaiz Bank Plc (formerly with GTBank), said he neither knew the defendant personally nor had any special interest in the case.

Agunbiade said despite having left GTBank, he was not surprised when the EFCC invited him in May 2023 to write a statement on the case.

The witness, who was cross-examined by defence lawyer Aseola Adedipe (SAN), said when he informed the EFCC that he had left GTBank, he was told that it did not matter since he prepared the documents on the court’s proceedings.

He confirmed the bank statement of Jide Abiodun Sotinrin, who paid money into Agunloye’s account on August 10, 2019, October 22, 2019, and November 13, 2019.

Agunbiade said the transactions were about individuals’ transfers, explaining that the transfer of money was from one individual customer of GTBank to another individual customer of the same bank.

The witness explained that the transfer of N3.6 million by Sotinrin to Agunloye’s account did not reference that it was made on behalf of either Leno Adesanya or Sunrise Power and Transmission Limited.