What's a special goverment employee?

Washington Post

A special government employee is “anyone who works, or is expected to work, for the government for 130 days or less in a 365-day period,” with or without compensation, according to the Justice Department. It is not clear how long Musk’s mission as head of the Department of Government Efficiency is expected to last.

The classification means Musk is not a volunteer but is considered less than a full-time employee. It also means he is exempt from some of the rules — including around financial disclosures and conflicts of interest — that apply to full-time government employees.