DOGE co-lead Elon Musk demanded federal employees comply with a demand within 48 hours earlier this week, or risk being let go.
Karoline Leavitt was forced to clarify after the director of the Office of Administration said the billionaire was not an employee of DOGE.
The agency known as "Doge" is Musk's brainchild, but the White House insists that he is not its leader - or even employed by it.